Letters to Fong

About the Author

Denise is a local community member who writes to our representative every day of the week. She also sends copies of the same message to our senators. She spends a lot of time researching topics and often uses multiple credible sources to support her letters. She does not expect others to agree with her personal views. Denise’s goal in sharing the letters is to inspire other members of the community to share their OWN views with our legislators about the topics, preferably after reading the actual reporting of the issues, rather than her interpretation.

Her approach to research

Denise first looked at a variety of different media bias charts, such as from Ad Fontes Media, Harvard Library Research, etc., to help select media outlets with a wide range of perspectives. She encourages the community to take a look at these charts as a preliminary step to ensure a healthy outlook on the topics. The cornerstone of democracy is a free and reliable press. We tend to read media with which we agree, so it helps to broaden “the net” to develop an understanding of the divisiveness that has permeated our nation. This approach also allows one to recognize when nearly every media outlet is reporting an event with the same descriptors/facts and only one or two are consistently outliers and in complete disagreement, that the latter outlets may be in need of serious fact checking.

Dedication

Denise has written to our Reps every day since February 2025 and we have been publishing her letters since June of 2025. If you’re feeling like you need a sanity check on the events from 2025, check out our archive of 2025 Letters to Fong. It’s so much chaos, it’s too much for one page to handle!

Navigation on this Page

Press/Hold Ctrl F on your keyboard and enter a keyword you are interested in or check out the Table of Contents. Once you get to the bottom of each letter, there will be a button you can click that will return you to the top of the page.

Table of Contents

Week of March 15th

Rep Fong’s Support of “Make Elections Great Again” Indicates Support of Voter Suppression

Mr. Fong: As you are aware, I am OPPOSED to HR 7300, the “Make Elections Great Again” act about which you wrote to convince me of its positive attributes. On the contrary, this act is the GREATEST ATTACK ON VOTER RIGHTS ever introduced at the federal level.

This act goes beyond the SAVE Act which you passed in the House last year that focused primarily on voters providing documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Introduced by Representative Bryan Stell of Wisconsin, the MEGA act would impose strict photo ID requirements to vote, create a centralized voter surveillance system in every state, mandate constant voter roll purges (eliminating the “Motor Voter” law that expanded access to voter registration), bar states from counting votes that arrive after Election Day, ban universal mail voting in which states mail ballots to all registered voters, bar federal funding for voter registration by outside groups, and unleash lawsuits against elections officials.

The act would disenfranchise millions of voters, Democrats and Republicans alike. According to States United Democracy Center, nearly one in three Americans voted by mail in 2024. Military voters and voters 65+ in age relied significantly on voting by mail in the last presidential election. Tens of millions of Americans of all backgrounds and regions in the country vote by mail to participate in our democracy.

You state in your letter that the impetus for this act is that “Americans on both sides of the aisle no longer believe in the integrity of our elections.” That is a patently false statement. According to GALLUP, majorities of Democrats and Independents trust the vote, while Republican confidence is diminished. Fifty-seven percent of all Americans say they are very or somewhat confident that the votes for president will be accurately cast and counted, about the same view that Americans have held nationally about our elections since 2008.

The reason for Republicans’ diminished faith in the system is that President Trump has preached incessantly that Americans should question our election system (along with the Constitution and many of our other institutions), EVEN THOUGH HE HAS NEVER PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD. The ONLY substantial evidence of fraud that has been produced has been DONALD TRUMP’S EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION, when he established slates of fake electors in swing states, accused election officials of impropriety without evidence, and created an insurrection at the Capitol to interfere with the certification of the election results.

Politico reported that the Trump administration has attempted to revive debunked conspiracy theories about voter fraud and has had the FBI seize voting records from Georgia and subpoenaed records related to an election audit in Arizona. The Justice Department has sued more than two dozen states demanding access to voter rolls. The president threatens to “nationalize” elections, although the Constitution clearly delegates authority for administering elections to the states. The president’s allies have called for military troops and ICE agents to be deployed to polls.

A Marist poll shows that three in four Republicans are in favor of National Guard being present at voting locations, while a similar number of Democrats are opposed to the idea. The DNC sued the Trump administration in federal court, requesting clarification about sending ICE agents or troops to the polls. The Marist poll also shows that two in three Americans are confident or very confident the upcoming midterm elections will be fair. Why are you attempting to suppress the vote for our citizens? March 15, 2026

Update On the War on Iran

Mr. Fong: Historian Heather Cox Richardson of Substack shared that the NYTimes reported that Ukraine sent interceptor drones and a team of drone experts to Jordan to protect US military bases there. President Zelenskyy said, “We reacted immediately. I said, yes, of course, we will send our experts.” On Fox Radio on the Brian Kilmeade Show, President Trump denied that Ukraine was helping the US with drone defense. He said, “We don’t need their help…We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually.” I guess the president forgot just how important saying “THANK YOU” was to him when President Zelenskyy visited him in the Oval Office. Although he expects ingratiating behavior from others, he cannot bring himself to offer genuine gratitude to anyone publicly.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth is sending an amphibious ready group of vessels carrying about 5,000 Marines and sailors to the Middle East. The American people are confused by this deployment, wondering how it could be necessary because the president posted the following on social media, “We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran militarily, economically, and otherwise…Iran’s navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones, and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time —Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today. They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!”

I am beyond saying how unbecoming this kind of bombastic and disrespectful rhetoric is coming from our head of state. Although the world has come to expect arrogant and inappropriate verbiage from Donald Trump, I still hold the values from a previous time when the world looked up to the United States and its dignified leaders. I find what Trump said loathsome. He continues to shame us. We must never accept or normalize such behavior and disregard for human life from our leadership. March 16, 2026

Ongoing War on Iran

Mr. Fong: Historian Heather Cox Richardson of Substack shared additional information about the ongoing war with Iran. The Arms Control Association assessed transcripts of the negotiations between Special Envoy Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and the Iranian Foreign Minister and determined that the US team did not have sufficient technical expertise or diplomatic experience for effective diplomacy. The Arms Control Association believes that the Iranian offer showed flexibility and was “an opening offer and unlikely Iran’s bottom line.” There were fundamental misunderstandings about the Iranian nuclear proposal and consequently, the effort to negotiate an agreement was abandoned. Many people have since died, including members of the US military.

Meanwhile, Secretary Hegseth complained at a press conference about reports that the war was widening and that the US did not fully consider that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz. He said that “a patriotic press” would have reported that Iran is weakening. In other words, Secretary Hegseth expressed that the press should publish propaganda, rather than report facts. Hegseth continued to express his low opinion of the importance of a free press by criticizing CNN, stating that “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”

Hegseth countered the press report on the status of the war, saying that the Strait of Hormuz is open. “The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping.” YES, HE SAID THAT! He attempted to reassure the oil shipping industry by saying, “We have been dealing with it, and don’t need to worry about it.” DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT?

Finally, and most troubling, Secretary Hegseth said “We will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.” Reporter Matt Novak noted, “No quarter is the refusal to take prisoners and instead just execute everyone. It’s been considered a WAR CRIME for over a century.” Former government war crimes lawyer Brian Finucane agreed, saying “denial of quarter—EVEN THE DECLARATION OF NO QUARTER—is a WAR CRIME. And recognized as such by the US government.” Politico reported that Hegseth cut the oversight employees from 200 to 40 in offices designed to limit civilian casualties in war and investigate responsibility for them. Hegseth vowed not to be hampered by “stupid rules of engagement” but insists the US does not target civilians. Nevertheless, he has ordered the killing of at least 157 people in small boats in the Caribbean, claiming without evidence they were “narco-terrorists.”

Americans have believed that their leaders would be extremely judicious in making serious decisions about engaging in war. We expect they would convene with Congress and debate the reasons for putting our troops at risk, the cost of war, and the broad plan. This procedure was not followed for the decision to go to war with Iran. On Fox’s Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump stated the war would not continue for long. He said he will know it’s over “when I feel it, OK, FEEL IT IN MY BONES.” So, Congress, will you be ordering a bone scan, or are you satisfied accepting such an unreliable, vague plan about the end of this war? March 17, 2026

Top Counterterrorism Official Resigns in Protest of Iran War

Mr. Fong: The Associated Press reported that Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned, stating his concerns about justification for military strikes on Iran. Director Kent stated, “Iran posed NO IMMINENT THREAT to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” The president has denied this allegation.

Director Kent has been associated with right-wing extremists and was confirmed last July for his position leading the center which analyzes and detects terrorist threats under the Department of National Intelligence directed by Tulsi Gabbard. His resignation comes at a critical time when terrorism in response to the US attack on Iran is heightened.

Many Americans share Director Kent’s view that the threat from Iran was not imminent and did not justify entering into a war which has resulted in many deaths, including US servicemen, threats of retaliatory attacks on American soil, and a disruption of economies around the world, including the oil industry from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These serious consequences have been considered by previous administrations, prompting efforts to establish diplomatic solutions with Iran. The impulsivity and lack of analysis and judgment of our president have caused us to initiate an unnecessary war that brings suffering to Americans and others around the world. March 18, 2026

A Sad and Unforgettable Turn of Events for the United States of America

Mr. Fong: Historian Heather Cox Richardson reminds us of our recent troubling history. On September 13, 2019, the one-time chair of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote to the Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire to call for release of an illegally withheld whistleblower complaint regarding President Trump’s telephone conversation with the president of Ukraine in July 2019. Schiff wrote, “The serious misconduct at issue involves the President of the United Staes and/or other senior White House or Administration officials. This raises grave concerns that your office, together with the Department of Justice and possibly the White House, are engaged in an unlawful effort to protect the President and conceal from the Committee information related to his possible ‘serious or flagrant’ misconduct, abuse of power, or violation of law.” The whistleblower was referring to Trump’s call to President Zelensky in which he demanded that Zelensky provide dirt on Biden’s son Hunter before Trump would release congressionally appropriated funds for Ukraine, funds Zelensky desperately needed to fight off Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. The whistleblower’s information on Trump’s extortion attempt led to the discovery that Trump’s administration ran a secret operation in Ukraine, separate from the State Department, for Trump’s benefit.

This serious illegal deed led to the first impeachment of Trump in the House of Representatives for ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. In Impeachment Manager Schiff’s eloquent closing argument to Senate Republicans, he asked that they hold Trump, “a man without character,” accountable, saying “You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is. Truth matters little to him. What’s right matters even less, and decency matters not at all. You can’t trust this president to do the right thing. Not for one minute, not for one election, not for the sake of our country. You just can’t. He will not change and you know it. A MAN WITHOUT CHARACTER OR ETHICAL COMPASS WILL NEVER FIND HIS WAY.”

To our great dismay, Republican Senators voted to acquit, even though many said privately (and some publicly) that they knew he was guilty. This president went on to lie about the results of the 2020 election, using the tactic of incessant repetition of mistruths to have the populace believe the reality he was trying to create. His deceit and lust for power led to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, his plan to interrupt the certification of the actual election results, even preparing slates of fake electors in the swing states in a grand attempt to hold on to power.

We are in our current national mess due to the abdication of responsibility of the Republican Congress. With each disgraceful violation that Trump inflicts on our nation, we are reminded of this abdication. March 19, 2026

Senator Wyden Seeks Document from DEA Regarding Epstein Cover Up – the Corruption Continues

Mr. Fong: For most people, once a person is untruthful, trust is broken. However, for some reason, this is not the case for the Republican members of Congress who continue to trust and support our president.

Trump lied again and again in his first term. He was impeached twice. He was convicted of numerous felonies. He was indicted for other serious crimes that were never able to go to trial, simply because he won the 2024 election. He made numerous campaign promises which he now breaks, including not releasing the Epstein files and keeping the United States out of war.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson is so commendable for documenting this sad and inexplicable time in American history. She reported that in December 2010 during the Obama administration the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was investigating Jeffrey Epstein and fourteen others for drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering. The significant investigation continued through 2015 during which time indictments were being prepared. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), top=ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has been investigating the finances of the Epstein debacle and found that JPMorgan Chase did not report more than $1 billion in suspicious transactions tied to Epstein.

Wyden has been pressing Treasury Secretary Bessent to produce records of these transactions to the committee, but he refuses. Wyden found that the DEA never charged Epstein and the fourteen others under investigation (names redacted) for drug trafficking or financial crimes and he accused DEA and DOJ of terminating the investigation. The memo including the fourteen names was heavily redacted even though it was clearly marked “unclassified.” Wyden asked Terrence C. Cole, DEA administrator, to produce a number of the related documents by March 13, 2026, including the unredacted copy of the memo. Wyden discovered that Cole was ready to comply. However, after Wyden requested the document, the DOJ STOPPED the DEA from providing it to Wyden. Wyden wrote to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer, who was also responsible for the transfer of Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower security prison, “In order to assist my investigation into this matter, I demand that you immediately authorize the release of this document.”

He posted to social media, “This is stunning interference…Given Blanche’s close personal ties to Donald Trump, this reeks of a continued coverup to protect key names in the Trump administration.” Senator Wyden is working hard to fulfill his responsibility of holding the government responsible to uphold the law.

As our representative, why aren’t you? Why do you continue to trust and support a president who repeatedly proves he is unfit to serve as our head of state? March 20, 2026

Trump’s Inappropriate Interaction with Japan’s Leader

Mr. Fong: The New York Times reported that at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump referred to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the event that led to the US involvement in World War II. Trump used this inappropriate comment to explain why he did not notify Japan and other allies about his and Israel’s attack of Iran. He added to the embarrassment of the prime minister (and to the American people) in his effort to refuse any responsibility for mishandling the Iran assault saying, “You believe in surprise, I think, much more so than us,” referring to the tragic historical event.

Following WWII, the US occupied Japan from 1945 until 1952 and Japan had to renounce war, making it reliant on the US for military protection. Since that time, Japan has been our ally, forming a strong economic and security relationship. The prime minister said, “The purpose of this visit is to emphasize the shared vision – the strong bonds that unite Japan and the United States, not the divisive past and the bitter rivalry and conflict of the war.”

Trump manages to insult many of the global leaders with whom he meets, going against diplomatic norms and giving our nation a reputation of not needing allies. Clearly, the president is clueless in the area of diplomacy and does not care about our position in the world other than to convey one of dominance and oppression, typical of someone who has deep-seated insecurity. He exhibits a superiority complex as he compensates for his personal psychological demons, consequently placing our nation in a weakened and even despised position. Future leadership will have much work to do to reverse the terrible image that this president has created through his bullying, attacks on sovereign nations, endless insults, and failure to build positive alliances. March 21, 2026

Week of March 8th

Middle Eastern Billionaire Expresses Disdain for Trump

Mr. Fong: The Hindustan Times reported that Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, a billionaire businessman and chairman of the Al Habtoor Group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, expressed his disdain for Donald Trump’s decision to start a war with Iran. His angry post chastises Trump for putting so many people at risk, including Americans, by taking military action against Iran and for ordering external military interventions and airstrikes.

He points out Trump’s incongruent bellicose actions with his recent efforts to create a “Board of Peace” organization that will decide the future and fund the rebuilding of Gaza. Chairman Al Habtoor eloquently wrote, “Who gave you the authority to drag our region into war with Iran? And on what basis did you take this dangerous decision? Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger? And did you consider that the first to suffer from this escalation will be the countries of the region itself! You have placed the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab states at the heart of a danger they did not choose.

Praise be to God, we are strong and capable of defending ourselves, and we have armies and defenses that protect our homelands, but the question remains. Who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield? For before the ink was even dried on the Board of Peace initiative you announced in the name of peace and stability, we find ourselves facing a military escalation that puts the entire region at risk.

So where did those initiatives go? And what is the fate of the commitments made in the name of peace? More dangerous still is that your decision does not threaten only the peoples of the region, but also reaches the American people whom you promised peace and prosperity. True leadership is not measured by decisions of war, but by wisdom, respect for others, and pushing forward achieving peace.

And if these initiatives were launched in the name of peace, then we have the right today to demand full transparency and clear accountability.” I am impressed by and grateful for these profound words spoken not by an American elected official who is supposed to be standing up to the erratic behavior of Donald Trump, but by an Emirati! March 8, 2026

Kari Lake Illegally Operated the US Agency for Global Media

Mr. Fong: Politico reported that a federal judge ruled that Kari Lake, who oversaw the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) which operates Voice of America, was assigned the task illegally and her actions in the role were illegitimate. The basis for the case ruling is the Vacancies Reform Act which limits the way agencies appoint temporary leaders while awaiting permanent nominees to be confirmed.

Ms. Lake was ineligible to serve as the CEO of USAGM on July 31 in an acting capacity. She had no Senate confirmation and she relinquished the position on November 19. The court ruled that during her four-month tenure, all actions she took must be treated as “void,” including a dramatic reduction in USAGM’s workforce.

Additionally, Lake’s predecessor Victor Morales delegated nearly all his responsibilities to Lake, which the court invalidated because he attempted to avoid the Senate’s advice and consent role and give her complete control in all but name. The plaintiffs in the case say this ruling is important because it is “a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love.”

The desired outcome is to restore Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks’ global operations and continue to provide journalism, not propaganda. During her time as USAGM CEO, Lake severely damaged the treasured organization that assures journalistic integrity and disseminates comprehensive news to nations around the world in more than 40 languages, some of which have governments that limit their citizens’ access to factual information.

The agency promotes freedom and democracy, the cornerstone of which is a free press. During the time that Kari Lake began to dismantle USAGM, I wrote to object to her appointment. I am heartened to learn that the courts have found that the damage Kari Lake incurred to this important institution will be halted and possibly reversed. March 9, 2026

Voting Rights Groups Express Concerns Over Supreme Court Case

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that the Supreme Court is considering a case that would diminish the voting power of Black Americans. The court signaled last year that it would readdress a provision of the Voting Rights Act that would eliminate a number of majority-minority congressional districts that were created to help voters of color elect their preferred candidates. Many of these districts are in Republican-controlled states in the South.

Organizations across the South are attempting to educate voters about the impact of such a ruling. Co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, a non-partisan voting rights group, Cliff Albright said, “Basically, the very existence of the act is being questioned.” Sixty-one years ago, civil rights leaders, Democratic leaders, and voting rights advocates marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to meet a violent, brutal arrest which ultimately garnered support for the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Known as “Bloody Sunday,” the legislation that came as a result is now being threatened.

Rev. Al Sharpton said that the anniversary march this year at the bridge was more about continuing the fight to protect voting rights rather than to commemorate it. The reverend was accompanied by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Governor Wes Moore of Maryland. Civil rights and voting rights activists acknowledge that they will have to find new ways to protect minority voting power under the current administration.

The Voting Rights Act was one of the most consequential statutes of the civil rights era which ended voter discrimination and outlawed literacy tests and other barriers that existed primarily in the South. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a provision that required nine Southern states with a history of Black voter suppression to get federal approval before changing their voting laws.

The court focused on the constitutionality of creating a second majority-Black congressional district in 2024. Louisiana voters argued that the creation of the new map was racial gerrymandering. The plaintiffs told the justices that race should no longer be a factor in drawing voter maps, which questioned the protections provided by the Voting Rights Act.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said, “This court’s cases, in a variety of contexts, have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time – sometimes for a long period of time, decades in some cases – but that they should not be indefinite.” A ruling is expected at the end of June. If the provision is struck down, redistricting could result in Republicans gaining as many as a dozen to nineteen seats across the South.

Democratic lawmakers in Republican-led states are introducing state-level voter rights legislation modeled after the federal law. Nine other states have already established similar laws. Voting rights groups are educating voters about the impact of the ruling and the importance of protecting voter rights. We must not give up the gains that have been made over the years to assure free and fair elections. Voter suppression cannot be accepted. March 10, 2026

Report on the War With Iran

Mr. Fong: Following a two-hour classified briefing on the Iran War, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut provided some information that he could share with the public in a Bluesky post. The information he offered was discouraging because the objectives of the war were not made clear at the briefing.

Although the president and his associates have given various explanations for the reason for this attack on Iran in coordination with Israel, the goal has not been to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program (which Trump said we already “obliterated” in a previous attack), which was one explanation offered during press conferences. Senator Murphy indicated that air strikes cannot “wipe out” nuclear material. Regime change, another explanation offered and then contradicted by Secretary of Defense Hegseth, is also not an objective of the bombing campaign.

As a matter of fact, news agencies are reporting that with the killing of the Ayatollah and members of his administration, the country is now in the hands of the former Ayatollah’s hardliner son. The regime has not changed, and the new leader will certainly be determined to avenge his father’s, wife’s, and son’s deaths, all who were reported killed in the attacks. According to Senator Murphy, the goal is to destroy the country’s missiles, sea vessels, and drone facilities.

However, when asked what would happen when the country begins to rebuild and restart production of their weapon program, the response was more bombing would ensue, indicating a long-term war. The president continues to tell the American people that this military action will end in a very short period of time, days or weeks.

As for the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, no plan was put forth about how that problem would be solved. It seems that the economic repercussions of the attack on Iran for the world’s oil supply were not considered in the decision to initiate a war. Many countries have been drawn into the conflict and will be impacted by it. The Trump administration has no clear explanation for the rationale to engage in war, nor any solutions for the huge international mess it has created. March 11, 2026

FBI Obtains Arizona Voting Data from GOP 2020 Review That Confirms Trump Lost

Mr. Fong: As the president continues to sow doubt on our election system, the Washington Post reported that a federal grand jury in AZ subpoenaed records from a review by Republican lawmakers of the 2020 presidential election which CONFIRMED THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST. AZ State Senate president complied with the subpoena, and the FBI now has the records in their possession.

In 2021, the Republican-led state Senate commissioned a review of nearly 2.1 million ballots in AZ Maricopa County which was funded by Trump supporters. The firm that conducted the review had no election experience but was operated by an executive who supported Trump’s unsubstantiated fraud claims.

In the end, the officially certified vote count and that of the review both showed that Joe Biden won the election. The FBI is in pursuit of surviving 2020 election records, demonstrated by their search of a warehouse storing ballots in Fulton County, GA last month, another election which Trump lost. The 2020 election has been thoroughly scrutinized, and the administration’s efforts to reexamine it shows the desperation of this president.

NUMEROUS COURTS AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS FOUND NO WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION IN AZ, GA, OR OTHER SWING STATES. Sowing distrust in the election system by rejecting election results is a typical tactic of an authoritarian leader who refuses to accept defeat. Americans must be alerted that the Trump administration will continue its campaign to inject distrust and disrupt the election process as time for the mid-term elections grows closer.

Members of Congress should be standing for the sacred institutions that protect the Constitution and not playing into the unsubstantiated claims of the Trump administration. March 12, 2026

Pro-Iran Hackers Claim Cyberattack on US Medical Device Maker

Mr. Fong: CNN reported that a global network disruption was caused by a cyberattack on a major US medical device maker by pro-Iran hackers. The company Stryker based in Michigan makes a range of hospital equipment, such as defibrillators and devices used by emergency responders to communicate patient data to hospitals, implemented across the nation and in other countries that serve more than 150 million patients.

The attack was the first notable pro-Iranian hack against US infrastructure since the US and Israel began bombing Iran last month. Rather than incur a financially motivated attack, the hackers did not introduce ransomware or malware but sought to disrupt and destroy the system.

The Iran-linked hackers indicated the cyberattack was in retaliation for a US missile strike on an elementary school in Iran which killed 168 children and additional school staff. Hospitals are now faced with trying to determine whether Stryker equipment should be disconnected, while Stryker claims the situation is contained.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Stryker’s stock fell more than 3% following the claim. The Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council that works with the government to bolster security provided little information about the hack. The Department of Health and Human Services was trying to assess the impact the hack would have on patient care.

The Trump administration’s decision to enter into a war with Iran when previous administrations recognized the value of establishing diplomatic relations demonstrates that it is willing to inflict these negative and potentially deadly consequences on the American people. March 13, 2026

Zelenskyy Criticizes Trump’s Decision to Give Putin a 30-Day Waiver on Oil Sanctions

Mr. Fong: Now that the President and you and your Republican colleagues have launched Operation Epic Fury on Iran, please don’t delude yourselves by believing that Americans are sufficiently distracted to forget about the war that Russia continues to launch against Ukraine, your takeover of Venezuela, or your continued military operations with Ecuador to exert power over Central and South America.

Your letter in which you attempt to justify these military “excursions” is ineffective in convincing any of us that they are in response to IMMINENT THREATS to the United States. The actual threat to our Constitutional democracy lies in the actions of our president and his impotent Republican Congress.

The Associated Press reported that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that the 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions prompted by the US war on Iran will not help bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which now surpasses four years. Russia stands to gain $10 billion to support his war. Zelenskyy made these statements during a press conference with French President Macron in Paris.

The US says it is lifting the sanctions to free Russian cargoes stranded at sea to help ease the oil shortages resulting from the US war on Iran. The interruption of the supply chain is bolstering the Russian economy and allowing Putin to finance his invasion of Ukraine. The war on Iran diverts attention from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the biggest conflict since World War II.

President Macron assured President Zelenskyy that broad sanctions on Russia will continue, despite the temporary US waiver. Ironically, The Washington Post and CNN reported that RUSSIA IS SUPPORTING IRAN with intelligence from overhead satellites on the movement of American troops, ships, and aircraft in its fight against the US. Several Iranian drones were successful in striking a facility housing in Kuwait, killing six US service members.

The US gained intelligence that China may be planning to provide Iran with financial assistance, spare parts, and missile components since China relies heavily on Iran for oil. Secretary of Defense Hegseth told reporters that Russia and China are “not really a factor” in the war with Iran. THAT MIGHT BE TRUE IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE.

Russia and Iran have been cooperating on drone and missile technology for three years, and Iran provides Russia with Shahed drones and short-range ballistic missiles in its fight with Ukraine. In return, Russia has helped Iran’s nuclear program, the one that you explain in your letter is one reason we chose to attack Iran (and sow further chaos in the world) rather than push for diplomatic relations. March 14, 2026

Week of March 1st

Attack on Iran Results in Secret Service Boost of Security for President and Vice President

Mr. Fong: ABC News and Reuters reported that the Secret Service is increasing security around the president and vice president, the White House, and former presidents in light of the US attack on Iran and the assassination of their supreme leader the Ayatollah Khamenei. Security is being heightened in major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert, even though DHS said there has been no specific threat issued.

Diplomatic locations, cultural centers, and religious sites are increasing vigilance as Iran has vowed to avenge the deaths of its 84-year-old leader and many of his top officials while US and Israeli military attacks on Iran continue. The Iranian theocratic regime is severely repressive, ruling against any dissent with arrests and executions.

Nevertheless, the elimination of top Iranian government officials still prompts threats from loyal supporters of the regime in the form of lone-wolf suicide attackers and terrorist cell activity within the US. Power grids and financial institutions risk experiencing retaliatory cyber-attacks. The public is being alerted to notice and report suspicious behaviors in crowds and unattended bags. Without even knowing the exact expected outcomes for the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, Americans must now be cautious while awaiting possible retribution.

Three American servicemen have lost their lives and at least five military have been critically injured thus far. The government has provided very little information about the nature of the attack on troops. The president only warns that more troop deaths are likely in the weeks to come.

Ironically, while the US is engaged in another war, on this date sixty-five years ago President John F. Kennedy established the PEACE CORPS, an organization in which I proudly served from 1976-1980 that fosters international understanding and cooperation. The high degree of cultural exchange, mutual respect among diverse cultures, and collaborative development projects created by the Peace Corps are beneficial in building diplomacy needed to avoid national conflicts like the one in which we are currently embroiled. Achieving peace through mutual understanding can be far more effective than “peace through strength” tactics. Brute military force creates distrust, living in constant fear of harm, cascading retaliation, and unnecessary deaths.

Military force should be used only as a last resort. Diplomacy is also far less expensive, allowing resources to be used for positive endeavors for all involved. March 1, 2026

Judges in Red West Virginia Condemn ICE Tactics

Mr. Fong: While our attention is distracted by serious international issues, we must not neglect focusing on the many domestic ones that continue to plague us. Politico reported that West Virginia District Court judges announced widespread lawlessness by masked ICE agents, defiance of court orders, and agents instilling fear and intimidation while operating immigration enforcement in the state last month. The federal government in partnership with local law enforcement undertook “Operation Country Roads,” making an estimated 630 arrests in January while targeting immigrants driving along West Virginia roadways.

The results have been an onslaught of lawsuits from people, most without criminal records and with longstanding ties in the US, seeking release from ICE custody. Despite the red state’s strong attachment to Trump, four judges in particular are warning of a descent into authoritarianism, using verbiage that is not commonly used by the judiciary. District Judge Joseph Goodwin wrote an opinion on February 19 stating, “Antiseptic judicial rhetoric cannot do justice to what is happening. Across the interior of the United States, agents of the federal government – masked, anonymous, armed with military weapons, operating from unmarked vehicles, acting without warrants of any kind – are seizing persons for civil immigration violations and imprisoning them without any semblance of due process. The systematic character of this practice and its deliberate elimination of every structural feature that distinguishes constitutional authority from raw force place it beyond the reach of ordinary legal description. It is an assault on the constitutional order.”

Only one judge, the district’s chief judge appointed by Trump, Frank Volk, has not commented on the mass detention policy. However, the other four are promising “legal consequences” if the administration and its partners in state government continue to detain people in unconstitutional ways. The judges are threatening civil fines and contempt of court rulings. Judge Goodwin asserts that judges in the district have ruled again and again against federal officials enforcing immigration law and he is now giving “final notice.”

The Justice Department counters that the law enforcement officials are working to keep Americans safe and accuse the judges of being activists “who’d rather see violent illegal criminals walk free.” Another District Judge Robert Chambers said that the American dream is being “tarnished” by the Trump administration’s illegal detentions. US District Judge Irene Berger said arrests and detentions are happening rapidly, despite the judges’ rulings that they are illegal.

One ICE detainee was accused of conviction for a marijuana violation in 2009. The detainee was four years old in 2009! Clearly, if apprehensions can occur without due process for noncitizens, the same could hold true for US citizens. The Constitution demands the rule of law. As long as these tactics are allowed to continue by DOJ and DHS across our nation, and our legislators are not standing for the rule of law, we are in serious trouble. March 2, 2026

Firing of More FBI Agents and Cyber Czar Ahead of Iranian Strike

Mr. Fong: MSNow reported that FBI Director Kash Patel fired another dozen agents and staff last week for their role in the classified documents investigation of Donald Trump. At least six sources said the terminated agents were part of an elite espionage unit which investigates threats from foreign adversaries and specializes in Iran. Director Patel said without providing evidence that the agents used inappropriate investigative steps in the president’s classified documents case.

The firing of members of the global unit known as CI-12 happened just days before the strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Politico reported that although many people had no confidence in the interim chief of the nation’s top cyber defense agency, Secretary Kristi Noem insisted on keeping him in place. Madhu Gottumukkala served roughly nine months as acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) during which time he received scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. In the end, the agency became so chaotic that it interfered with protecting sensitive government networks from a series of cyberattacks. Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski kept Gottumukkala in his position fearing his dismissal would reflect poorly on the Secretary. However, the CISA chief was reassigned last Thursday as the new director of strategic implementation for which the responsibilities are unclear. He had no prior experience in the federal government and worked in private sector IT roles before working under Noem as South Dakota’s chief information officer.

During his tenure with CISA, he focused on the border and India, the country where he grew up, which has not been a hacking threat to the US. Although one briefer prepared material on Iran’s cyber capabilities, that information was never a focus. Gottumukkala also ended multiple contracts without alerting agency staff. He dismissed almost a dozen employees while the agency suffered a workforce shortage. He failed a counterintelligence polygraph exam last year which DHS later called ”unsanctioned” and the staff who arranged the exam have been placed either on paid leave or dismissed. Gottumukkala got media attention for suspending a CISA employee caught on his vehicle’s video last summer for making a middle-finger gesture towards his Tesla Cybertruck while it was parked in an agency parking lot. The employee said he did not know to whom the vehicle belonged, but he was upset because it had been left in a shared charging port for days. The employee was eventually permitted to return to work after two months suspension.

Rep Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), the top Democrat on the House committee that oversees CISA said that while awaiting a replacement to head CISA, the decimated agency does not have the capacity for critical missions. Trump’s kakistocracy continues to make the US vulnerable, particularly in light of the president’s decision to strike Iran. March 3, 2026

The Cost of War

Mr. Fong: Heather Cox Richardson of Substack reported that the US has 500,000 to 1 million people in the Middle East. They were not informed prior to Trump’s attack of Iran that their safety might be jeopardized. They are now being urged by the State Department to leave, although initially the government said it would not help, even though airports and airspaces were closing. After being pressured, the government is now saying it will charter planes and use military aircraft to evacuate those who choose to leave. To date, six servicemen have reportedly been killed with the president indicating the likelihood that more will die.

Forbes reported that US military strikes have already cost American taxpayers more than $1 billion. Kuwaiti’s mistaken firing on and destroying three F-15E Eagle Jets cost $90 million each. The cost of transporting troops, ships, and aircraft to the Middle East cost about $630 million. Expensive missiles, weapon systems, drones, etc. cost millions and the two aircraft carriers positioned in the region cost at minimum $13 million per day, with additional costs for operating aircraft. Politico reported that lawmakers plan to request supplemental funding for this operation in addition to the more than $150 billion the Republicans provided the Pentagon in their “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the nearly $839 billion in regular funding that Congress appropriated in February.

Trump used the 1973 War Powers Act to attack Iran saying that an URGENT threat warranted it. THE CONSTITUTION PLACES THE POWER TO DECLARE WAR IN THE HANDS OF CONGRESS, NOT THE PRESIDENT because the framers did not want to put that trust in the hands of ONE PERSON. According to the Constitution, war requires ROBUST DEBATE about the cost of war in human and financial loss (“but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than Two Years”) by the congressional officials elected by the American people. Alexander Hamilton assured the American people that they need not fear the power of the new government because the necessity of debating war and the two-year limit on government funding for the military would give the public “opportunity of taking measures to guard against it.” Trump is taking that power away from the representatives of the people by declaring a war that is not an emergency as is required by the War Powers Act.

Meanwhile, while our eyes are on the Middle East, the US Southern Command in Central and South America posted, “On March 3, Ecuadorian and US military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism. Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.” After the attack and takeover of Venezuela, we are witnessing the same argument now for taking action against Ecuador. Let’s not forget that the former president of Honduras, a convicted drug-trafficker was PARDONED by Trump, and that taking Venezuelan oil was the ultimate goal after attacking numerous small Venezuelan vessels prior to the military takeover there. The president has even bragged that US military action disrupted the Venezuelan fishing industry, while he shamefully used rationale of halting drug trafficking to win acceptance from the American people.

CONGRESS MUST TAKE BACK ITS CONSTITUTIONALLY DESIGNATED POWER OF DECLARING AND FUNDING WAR. If not, you are responsible for unleashing on the world an individual who is fully taken with his power over a lethal military force. March 4, 2026

Definition of “War”

Mr. Fong: Axios reported that the Senate has rejected an effort to restrict Trump from using further military action in Iran. Only Republican Rand Paul voted with Democrats to advance the War Powers resolution and Democrat John Fetterman voted with Republicans to oppose the vote. The president cannot and should not unilaterally initiate a war. Now, Republicans are arguing that this situation cannot actually be labeled “war” and that it is simply a military operation or as Speaker Johnson calls it, “a very specific, clear mission.” Johnson’s wording is not unlike the language that Putin uses to avoid the word “war” in Russian media, calling his attacks on Ukraine, “special military operations.” I think EVERYONE questions Speaker Johnson’s characterization that the strikes on Iran have been “CLEAR.”

We are uncertain if even the president has an unambiguous and intelligible vision of this situation. Press Secretary Leavitt says the president had “a FEELING, based on facts” that we should forego only three attempts at negotiations with Iran and instead start a war. The “facts” that prompted his “feeling” have never been disclosed.

CNN Politics reported that Iranian intelligence sent word to the US, first reported by The NYTimes, that it could be prepared to open talks on how to end the war. However, US officials indicate that there are no “off-ramps” underway and no serious discussions to bring the war to an end. Instead, they say we are entering a new, more intense phase and Secretary of Defense Hegseth said the US is “just getting started.” Numerous nations have reached out to the president wanting to help bring an end to the conflict. No robust exchange of messages between the US and Iran have resulted, and Envoy Witkoff has not exchanged messages with the Iranian Foreign Minister or the top national security official. A US government official said, ”We’re not using anyone as an interlocutor. This is a military action, and it’s got to run its course.” Does it? Iran declares they are not reaching out to Americans because they are engaged in defending themselves and their leadership has been decimated. Trump told Atlantic magazine that he intended to speak to Iran’s new leaders; however, a day later he posted that Iranians “want to talk” but he replied, “too late!” The next step in Congress seems to be a formal “Authorization for Use of Military Force” and to use supplemental military funding as leverage. As lives are lost, Americans flee the Middle East, missiles and drones are lobbed back and forth among numerous countries, and the president himself refers repeatedly to “war,” there is no doubt in the minds of Americans that the president and Israel have instigated a WAR with Iran that the majority of Americans DO NOT WANT and that the president intends to continue until he “feels” otherwise. It is gravely unfortunate for our country that Republican lawmakers are using semantics to pull off another blow to the Constitution, rather than honor their oath of office and allow our government to function in the way it was intended. March 5, 2026

Trump Nominee for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Removed As Senior DHS Adviser

Mr. Fong: CBS News reported that Sean Plankey, senior adviser to DHS and Trump’s nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), was escorted out of US Coast Guard headquarters and had his access badge removed. The circumstances for his abrupt removal are unclear. Plankey is a retired US Coast Guard officer and served as DHS adviser for the Coast Guard under Secretary Noem.

Plankey’s 2025 nomination to head CISA expired after Florida Senator Rick Scott placed a hold on it when it did not receive a Senate vote. He was renominated by Trump in 2026; however, some White House officials characterize his more recent nomination as an administrative error. A spokesperson affirmed that the nomination was intentional and that Plankey is still the nominee to lead CISA, despite his removal.

Plankey had longstanding tension with the recently replaced, controversial acting director of CISA, Madhu Gottumukkala, over cybersecurity contracts. Security alerts were triggered when Gottumukkala released sensitive documents on a public version of ChatGPT. Nick Anderson, who served as assistant CISA director, has since replaced Gottumukkala as acting director.

Plankey was instrumental in securing $25 billion in funding for the Coast Guard in the most recent appropriations bill. With the recent firing of Secretary Noem—who GOP Senator Thom Tillis threatened with stalling Trump’s nominees over her immigration enforcement operations and disaster response funding in his state of North Carolina—the situation has certainly changed.

The delay in Plankey’s nomination is significant because, although larger infrastructure companies rely on private intelligence vendors for security intelligence, smaller companies such as water utilities and manufacturers depend heavily on CISA guidance. Additionally, DHS faces a shutdown due to its harsh policies, and the war with Iran has created additional cyber threats from foreign adversaries.

As has often been the case, the chaos of the Trump administration and his ill-chosen cabinet and advisors put our nation at great risk. March 6, 2026

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez to Keep Control Over the Nation

Mr. Fong: The Hill reported that President Trump issued a threat against Delcy Rodriguez, the acting leader of Venezuela, saying, “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” Maduro now resides in a New York City jail cell. Rodriguez has been defiant against the armed US intervention in Venezuela that led to Maduro’s capture. She has made comments about not becoming a “colony ever again” and stated that Venezuela is “ready to defend our natural resources.”

Trump has vowed to temporarily “run” Venezuela and days ago threatened to indict Rodriguez if she did not continue to cooperate. Shortly thereafter, Trump praised Rodriguez in a post, saying, “The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both Countries is a very nice thing to see.” In response, Rodriguez expressed her gratitude to the president in a post.

Reuters reported that Trump was considering possible corruption and money laundering charges against Rodriguez as a means to boost US leverage over the country. Additionally, the NYTimes reported that the US has opened military actions in Ecuador, joining Ecuadorian forces against “designated terrorist organizations.” The US has expanded its unilateral strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific that are accused of transporting drugs. The mission objectives and details have not been disclosed.

Strikes on boats in the area are illegal because the military cannot target civilians who do not pose an imminent threat of violence, even if they are engaged in criminal acts. Ecuadoran President Noboa has sought to build an alliance with Trump and has allowed the US to establish military bases in Ecuador, despite a resounding defeat of a referendum voted by the people of Ecuador.

Three weeks earlier, General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, convened military leaders from around the Western Hemisphere to encourage coordination to fight transnational criminal groups in the region. The Associated Press reported that Ecuador recently ordered Cuba’s ambassador and staff to leave the country in 48 hours. The Ecuadoran president also canceled his ambassador to Cuba. The Ecuadoran government gave no reason for these decisions, which is allowable under the laws of the Vienna Convention.

These diplomatic decisions occurred the same day the US and Ecuador announced their joint military operations against organized crime. Trump has placed restrictions on oil sales to Cuba, which noted that the US is asserting pressure on Cuba and other governments in the region. Trump is using his powerful influence as president and commander-in-chief of a lethal military to wreak havoc in the EU, Ukraine, various countries in Central and South America, and the Middle East.

His lack of understanding of history and diplomacy, coupled with his volatile, narcissistic nature, makes the situation extremely dangerous for the world and for the future of the United States. March 7, 2026

Week of February 22nd

Judge Dismisses CA Deportation Case for Father of Three US Marines

Mr. Fong: In these uncertain times, a good day is when the media report that justice still prevails in our country. The Supreme Court ruling against the unlawful levying of tariffs by the president without congressional approval was a significant win. A win that is smaller in scope, but one that touches Americans in personal ways, was reported by the Associated Press regarding the deportation case of a Southern California landscaper.

Narisco Barranco, an immigrant who came from Mexico in the 1990s and does not have legal status, was arrested by federal agents who pinned him to the ground while he was landscaping outside an IHOP restaurant. His violent arrest was captured on witness videos. Mr. Barranco was taken to a detention center in Los Angeles and placed in deportation proceedings. He is the proud father of three sons who serve in the US Marines. Eventually, he was released on a $3,000 bond and required to wear an ankle monitor.

Six months following the incident, Judge Kristin S. Piepmeier ruled that Mr. Barranco provided evidence that he is indeed the father of three US-born sons in the military, making him eligible to seek lawful status. Mr. Barranco continues to stay at home until his legal paperwork is finalized, fearing he will be apprehended again. DHS has stated that it will appeal the court ruling.

Mr. Barranco’s attorney, Lisa Ramirez, commented, “Mr. Barranco has had zero criminal history. They came after him because he was a brown gardener in the streets of Santa Ana.” Ms. Ramirez explained that Barranco applied for Parole in Place, a program that protects parents of US servicemen from deportation and helps them obtain permanent residency.

DHS contends that while attempting to apprehend him, Mr. Barranco swung his weed trimmer at an agent. His son, Alejandr, insists that his father did not attempt to attack anyone, has no criminal record, and is hardworking and kind. He raised his sons to serve their country. The US veteran stated that the use of force to arrest his father was unnecessary and contradicted the training he received in the military.

Mr. Barranco’s arrest is another example of excessive force used by DHS agents to apprehend and demean immigrants, rather than focusing on removing criminals and “the worst of the worst” from our streets, as purported by the Trump administration when massively funding the agency. February 22, 2026

Vietnam Veterans Sue to Block Proposed “Independence Arch”

Mr. Fong: NPR reported that a group of Vietnam War veterans and a retired architectural historian filed a federal lawsuit to block the construction of a proposed monument near Arlington Cemetery. Trump plans to build a 250-foot arch, which he calls “Independence Arch,” in the Memorial Circle. The structure is intended to rival the L’Arc du Triomphe in Paris.

The veterans contend that the president’s “vanity project” would disrupt the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, a view designed to evoke national unity following the Civil War. They say they visit the site regularly and believe the proposed structure would “dishonor their military and foreign service.” Moreover, the president’s plan violates the Commemorative Works Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Historical Preservation Act.

Nevertheless, Trump wants to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country with new monuments and projects that highlight American history and military service. Ironically, his projects tend to distract from certain aspects of history that he personally believes should not be honored. He has not sought approval for projects he intends to undertake on federal lands, disrespecting the systems in place and ignoring the process for congressional approvals.

Trump literally bulldozed the East Wing of the White House in preparation for his vision of a massive ballroom. I do not agree with the president’s proposed monument construction projects because he is incapable of considering the opinions of the American people and our nation’s veterans, and he does not honor the regulations in place to protect our federal lands and monuments. February 23, 2026

Use of Taxpayer Funds for Propaganda Ads Promoting ICE

Mr. Fong: I recently saw several advertisements on cable television promoting ICE by showcasing the work that agents do to keep America safe and thanking the president for securing the border. Axios reported that DHS had the most expensive ad campaign in 2025, spending $51 million. These ads promote Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Additionally, they act as public service announcements urging undocumented immigrants to leave.

President Trump’s name is the most mentioned phrase in the ads, with deferential expressions of gratitude for making America first and blaring his message that undocumented immigrants should leave. ICE has spent an additional $10 million on ads airing nationally to recruit agents. Fox News Channel hosts the largest number of ads for DHS, with $9 million worth of content. Most program-specific spending focused on morning shows such as “Today,” “CBS Morning,” and “Good Morning America.”

In the last month of the year, the most ads were aired during the Mexican soccer league (Futbol: Liga MX), Fox’s “The Five,” and Univision’s “Despierta America.” Many of the ads target Spanish speakers, using Spanish subtitles. Two companies primarily produce DHS ads: “People Who Think” and “Safe America Media.” They won the contract, bypassing the usual bidding process.

I am greatly OPPOSED to the use of taxpayer dollars to push the cruel and unlawful agenda of DHS. The undocumented immigrants who are being apprehended, often through racial profiling, are not provided due process and are treated inhumanely. Moreover, the companies creating the ads have not been hired lawfully. The entire process is a stain on America, and no matter how much money is wasted on ads that are aired to convince the public otherwise, it will never win favor. February 24, 2026

Trump’s New Justice Department “National Fraud Enforcement Division”

Mr. Fong: The Associated Press reported that the president is creating a new division of the Department of Justice dedicated to targeting fraud. The National Fraud Enforcement Division seems redundant, as fraud is already prosecuted by the Criminal Division of the DOJ. The president’s nominee for the assistant attorney general in charge of the new division, Colin McDonald, will report DIRECTLY TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

The president announced at his State of the Union address that Vice President Vance has been tasked with leading the “war on fraud.” If nominated, Assistant Attorney General McDonald will put renewed attention on widespread fraud in Minnesota, particularly in the community of Somali descent. At his confirmation hearing, McDonald did not respond as to whether he would follow orders from the president to open investigations but stated that he would follow the facts and apply the law in ALL cases.

The Trump administration has decimated the many barriers that traditionally kept the Justice Department completely separate from the White House. However, the formation of this particular division to root out fraud, with its DIRECT CONNECTION to the White House, is unlikely to investigate fraud in the executive branch. Instead, it may focus on cases—real or imagined—to support the president’s retaliatory political agenda.

McDonald would face challenges in recruiting prosecutors to investigate fraud in the US Attorney’s office in Minnesota due to numerous resignations, including that of the respected lead prosecutor Joseph Thompson, following the fatal shootings of two American citizens by immigration law enforcement. The Criminal Division of the DOJ was successful in charging 265 people responsible for $16 billion in intended fraud losses in 2025, which was double the total from 2024.

Therefore, the rationale for creating a new fraud division is understandably being questioned. Targeting fraud is an important component of law enforcement nationwide, but if fraud at the executive level of government is excluded from investigation, and if the president uses his creation of a new division to go after his political enemies and critics, then the real intention is nothing more than a corrupted authoritarian arm. February 25, 2026

Jack Smith’s Report on Classified Documents Case Blocked

Mr. Fong: Politico reported that Trump-appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon permanently barred the Justice Department from releasing special counsel Jack Smith’s report regarding Trump’s inappropriate taking and storing of classified documents, as well as obstructing efforts to reclaim those documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate. The judge chastised Smith for compiling the report even after she ruled in July of 2024 that his appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional and dismissed the case against Trump and two co-defendants.

The DOJ appealed Cannon’s ruling but dropped the case after Trump’s election. Judge Cannon has faced criticism for ruling in Trump’s favor and going against common practice and precedent. She delayed the classified documents case for months by appointing an independent overseer to review materials that had been seized from Mar-a-Lago until a federal appeals court overturned her decision.

Smith had been seeking a speedy schedule for the criminal case, which Cannon rejected. She dismissed the case on the day Trump was formally nominated at the 2024 Republican National Convention. The Justice Department, after Trump took office, took the position that the report should never be released. Trump’s co-defendants also opposed the release of the report.

Two legal groups, American Oversight and the Knight First Amendment Institute, sought to formally intervene in the dismissal, arguing in support of disclosure. Judge Cannon denied permission, but the groups’ appeal is pending in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. They argue that no legitimate basis for suppressing the report exists. Various organizations and news media have requested the report under the Freedom of Information Act.

Trump asked Cannon to block Smith’s reports on his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the classified documents case, but Judge Cannon only blocked the latter, stating she did not have the power to intervene in matters of the election. If a higher court overrules Cannon, the classified documents report will hopefully be released. February 26, 2026

FBI Staff Who Worked on Classified Documents Case Fired

Mr. Fong: CBS News reported that more than ten FBI staff members who worked on the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case under special counsel Jack Smith have been fired. The employees were investigating President Trump’s retention of classified records after he left the White House in 2021.

Reuters reported that as part of the probe into Trump, the FBI subpoenaed records of phone calls made by FBI Director Kash Patel and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles while they were still both private citizens. Patel claimed to Reuters that the previous FBI used “flimsy pretexts” to subpoena the calls while trying to “evade all oversight.” However, Reuters did not independently verify Patel’s claims. Additionally, Patel was not able to provide evidence of any wrongdoing by the staff who were terminated.

All of those terminated were agents and analysts involved with the classified documents case. CBS News verified with a source familiar with the matter that Wiles’ records were reviewed but was unable to confirm whether Patel’s records were. The FBI Agents Association, which represents past and current agents, condemned the firings as violations of FBI employees’ due process rights.

A statement from the association said, “These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau’s ability to meet its recruitment goals, ultimately putting the nation at great risk.” Smith’s investigations into Trump led to the first federal criminal indictments against a former president in US history.

The Justice Department fired a group of prosecutors from Smith’s team, and the FBI previously fired agents involved in Trump’s election fraud investigation. Attorneys for Jack Smith stated that his investigations were “entirely lawful, proper and consistent with established Department of Justice policy.” Those fired were merely following and documenting evidence, essentially doing their jobs. I am opposed to these continued retaliatory actions in the federal government. February 27, 2026

Trump Administration’s Assessment of the State of the Union Is Inaccurate

Mr. Fong: You parroted the president’s assessment of the state of the union in your newsletter, and you are BOTH sadly mistaken. The state of our union is NOT “STRONG.” Your claims of having tamed inflation, boosted wages, grown the economy, unleashed American energy, enacted historic tax cuts for families and businesses, and restored peace are outright lies. You must think you are talking to an audience of individuals who live elsewhere and are not experiencing everyday life in the United States—people you can deceive with superlative rhetoric.

As an elected representative of the people, you are defiling your oath of office by making such outrageous statements to your constituents. TODAY, THE PRESIDENT INFORMED US THAT WE ARE AT WAR WITH IRAN. Without notifying Congress within 48 hours of military action, the president violated the War Powers Resolution. The Constitution puts the power to declare war in Congress’ hands. Without a formal declaration of war from Congress, law limits the deployment of armed forces beyond 90 days.

The president could have made his case for declaring war on Iran at his State of the Union address, but he did not. Iran does not have ICBM capability that would put our country at risk of attack. No evidence has been provided that Iran is involved in industrial-grade enrichment of uranium, and Secretary of State Rubio said as much in recent weeks during attempts at diplomacy from an inexperienced duo—the president’s real estate friend Witkoff and his son-in-law Kushner.

The president states repeatedly that the strike on Iran last year “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, so an argument that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb would be contradictory. Unfortunately, the agreement we previously had with Iran, during which time the US could monitor Iran’s nuclear capability, was destroyed by Donald Trump during his first administration for no clear reason other than it had been established by President Obama.

Trump did not come to the aid of Iranian free-speech demonstrators when their government brutally oppressed and killed thousands of them in recent months. Now, with spurious and ever-changing explanations—along with the urging of Netanyahu—Trump has made a decision to drag us into war. The cowardice of Republicans and their failure to stand up to the president have encouraged him to go rogue with no legal authority, putting our servicemen and women in harm’s way.

I AM OPPOSED TO ENGAGING IN ANOTHER REGIME-CHANGING WAR AND ESCALATING GLOBAL TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Speaker Johnson should be calling a session of Congress IMMEDIATELY to discuss the ramifications of the president’s actions. The rationale and end game for putting the lives of our military at stake should be made crystal clear to them and to the American people. February 28, 2026

Week of February 15th

Beware of Increased Efforts of the Trump Administration to Control Who Participates in Elections

Mr. Fong: The voting regulations being introduced by Republicans in Congress are part of a larger plan to decide WHO GETS TO VOTE. Leaders are attempting to select their voters instead of ensuring voters can select their leaders. According to the Existentialist Republic, the Supreme Court STRUCK DOWN a provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 that, for nearly fifty years, had required states with histories of racial voter discrimination to seek federal approval before changing election rules.

Since that court ruling, Texas was the first to implement a voter ID law that had been blocked under the previous law. In the ten years that followed, 29 states passed 94 laws making it harder to vote, especially in communities of color. The Trump administration has eliminated or drastically reduced the federal agencies responsible for helping states protect election systems.

The proposed 2026 federal budget would eliminate $39.6 million in funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The DOJ Civil Rights Division, the ONLY FEDERAL BODY charged with enforcing the Voting Rights Act, has lost 70% of its attorneys since Harmeet Dhillon took over as Assistant Attorney General. Dhillon previously worked as a lawyer challenging the 2020 election. Of 14 civil rights cases brought since the start of 2025, the DOJ has withdrawn from or reversed the majority of them.

The bipartisan Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaign finance, had its chair removed just as the commission prepared to adjudicate complaints regarding Elon Musk’s massive contribution to Trump’s campaign. The federal government has withdrawn from election protections, including agencies defending against cyberattacks, lawyers who enforced voting rights, and campaign financing watchdogs.

When Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election, Attorney General Barr disputed fraud claims, CISA pushed back on disinformation, national security officials blocked the seizure of voting machines, and election officials could not be coerced to find votes. Unfortunately, Trump has assured that those protections are largely gone.

All of these measures to alter our election system will permanently stifle attempts to conduct free and fair elections. The Hill reported that DHS Secretary Noem indicated her department has a wide role in election security by “maintaining critical infrastructure.” She admitted that DHS has “been proactive to make sure that we have the RIGHT PEOPLE voting, electing the RIGHT LEADERS to lead this country through the days that we have, knowing that people can trust it.”

Due to uncertainty about whether the SAVE Act, which passed in the House, will pass in the Senate, Trump stated, “There will be voter ID for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!” The SAVE Act would disenfranchise millions of legal voters. February 15, 2026

Proposed Amendment Would Give Congress Power to Block Presidential Pardons

Mr. Fong: According to a report by Axios, although presidential pardons are a constitutional authority, Trump has not exercised this authority judiciously. He pardoned THOUSANDS OF JAN 6 DEFENDANTS, who were charged with assaulting law enforcement officers. He has granted clemency or pardons to individuals whose sentences were appropriate, most notably for Henry Cuellar, George Santos, Rod Blagojevich, cryptocurrency mogul Changpeng Zhao, and five former NFL players convicted of financial and drug-related crimes.

In his first administration, he pardoned his associates Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort. All authorities held by the executive branch require necessary checks and balances, just as the Constitution envisioned. Democratic Representative Johnny Olszewski of MD is leading an amendment that would create a process where 20 House members and five senators could force a vote to nullify a presidential pardon. This block would require a vote of a two-thirds majority in both assemblies.

The amendment is narrow but would ensure that the pardon power is used fairly and responsibly, regardless of who is president. Trump’s pardons have faced bipartisan backlash in several cases. Republican Representative Don Bacon of NE has signed on as the first Republican co-sponsor of the Pardon Integrity Act. Many presidents have pardoned controversial individuals, but they at least went through a standard process that is in place for such important decisions. Trump has reportedly skirted that process.

Unfortunately, a constitutional amendment requires two-thirds majorities in both chambers AND ratification in 38 states to pass. The amendment may be unlikely to succeed given the high bar it must achieve, but proposals since the Trump presidency speak volumes about concerns regarding the president’s integrity and judgment. Previous similar constitutional amendments were proposed in 2021, 2023, and 2025 to restrict presidential pardons involving self-corruption, and corruption related to family, White House staff, cabinet members, and campaign staff, including personal, financial, or political interests of the president and close associates.

Any pardons for corrupt purposes would have been voided. None of these amendments passed, but they certainly merit continued robust discussion and future consideration. February 16, 2026

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that DHS sent Google, Meta, and other social media companies subpoenas for information on accounts that track or comment on ICE activities. Americans who oppose ICE will have their information from social media accounts legally submitted to the government, including their names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and other identifying data.

Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) have received hundreds of subpoenas, according to four government officials and tech employees who spoke on condition of anonymity since they are not authorized to speak publicly. Google, Reddit, and Meta have responded to some government requests. Following review, these tech companies decide whether to submit the data to the government. In some cases, they notify the people whose accounts are being considered for submission 10 to 14 days prior to the data submission, giving them time to fight the subpoena in court.

ACLU spokesman and senior supervising attorney Steve Loney said, “The government is taking more liberties than they used to. It’s a whole other level of frequency and lack of accountability.” DHS claims it has “broad administrative subpoena authority” and states that its goal is to keep ICE agents safe. Meta, Reddit, and Discord declined to comment, while a Google spokesperson said, “When we receive a subpoena, our review process is designed to protect user privacy while meeting our legal obligations.” Google asserts that it pushes back on overbroad legal demands and informs users when their accounts have been subpoenaed, unless under legal order or other exceptional circumstances.

In the past, these subpoenas were only issued by DHS to uncover serious crimes such as child trafficking. Twitter (now X) sued the federal government in 2017 for an administrative subpoena to unmask an account during the first Trump administration, but the subpoena was eventually withdrawn. Last September, DHS issued subpoenas to Meta for individuals with Instagram accounts posting about ICE raids in California. The ACLU challenged the subpoenas in court, causing them to be withdrawn before a judge could rule. The withdrawal occurred because, to continue issuing the subpoenas, DHS had to avoid a legal order to stop.

Nevertheless, the end result is that legal and financial pressure is placed on private individuals to go to court. The Trump administration has become increasingly aggressive in responding to criticism of ICE. ICE agents told protesters in Minneapolis and Chicago that they were being recorded and identified with facial recognition technology. Border Czar Homan reported on Fox News that he was advocating for the creation of a database of individuals arrested for interference, impeding ICE operations, and assaulting officers.

Tech companies have published transparency reports indicating that requests from governments seeking user information have increased in recent years worldwide, with the United States and India among those submitting the most requests. The ACLU argues that the government is using subpoenas to target people simply because it disagrees with their free speech. The targeted protesters in Minnesota were merely posting alerts about ICE activity in their communities. As incredible as it sounds, I am describing life in the USA. February 17, 2026

ICE Detains Hundreds of Children

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that the number of children in immigration detention facilities has greatly increased since last year. Anecdotes of children being apprehended while seeking medical attention at hospitals, sitting at laundromats with their mothers, and preparing for school are being reported. In certain cases, parents requested that their children be left with relatives rather than incarcerated in the facilities, but their requests were unheeded.

Most immigrants are processed through the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, which at one point held more than 1,000 children during a surge of migrants fleeing Central America. The Biden administration stopped using the facility in 2021, and it was closed in 2024. However, the Trump administration reopened the facility last year. This time, it houses children who have been living in the US and attending American schools, sometimes for years. Since reopening, the facility has housed approximately 3,300 adults and children.

It remains unclear whether any of the children housed there are American citizens, having been born recently to immigrant parents. Some detainees are held for a few days while others are held for months. Some are deported, whether they choose that option or not. The Biden administration allowed thousands of migrants seeking asylum into the country, a process that can take years to decide. Trump argues that migrants took advantage of the asylum program, requiring them to choose between voluntarily leaving the country or accepting confinement.

DHS states, “Being in detention is a choice.” Many people choose detention because their cases are pending in immigration court and they still hope to be permitted to stay. Others choose detention out of fear of returning to their home countries. In some instances, parents complied with immigration instructions by checking in at ICE offices but were told to return the next day WITH THEIR CHILDREN. At that time, both the parents and children were taken into custody.

Children enrolled in school have had their education interrupted and are provided with only an hour a day of schooling. DHS contends that “children have access to teachers, classrooms, and curriculum booklets for math, reading, and spelling. All of this is generously funded by the US taxpayer.” The Dilley detention center is operated by Core Civic, a private prison company, which depicts the facility as a dorm-like setting with bunk beds, an outdoor play area, a volleyball court, a simple library, and a pantry with animal crackers and snacks.

Those detained in Dilley describe a much different environment, saying they receive inadequate medical care, have scant drinking water, share space with other families, must sleep with the lights on all night, and receive very little education. DHS argues that “detainees are provided with three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries.” Lawyers for the detainees assert that the federal government is breaking the terms of a 1997 settlement agreement requiring the government to provide basic care and education to undocumented children in custody.

Age-appropriate instruction in subjects such as science, math, and reading is required in a classroom setting. Additionally, children are supposed to be transferred out of immigrant detention within about 20 days. The Dilley center is surrounded by barbed wire, and children often lose weight during detention. Recently, cases of measles have been reported. Students who had been studying chemistry, geometry, history, and English when enrolled in high school are given worksheets to color of the American flag and search for the 50 states during their daily hour of instruction.

Children are often turned away from classrooms limited to 12 to 15 students. DHS was supposed to contract with Stride, Inc, a for-profit company that provides virtual education. However, Stride released a statement saying, “we are not providing educational services at this facility.” Parents report that their children become upset and ask whether they have done something wrong to be confined. One 13-year-old became despondent, crawling under his bunk and weeping uncontrollably. Some children have regressed in their development, experienced panic attacks, and become suicidal.

According to the Deportation Data Project, last year an average of 175 children a day were held in ICE detention, compared to about 25 children a day during the Biden administration. A non-profit organization providing legal services to families inside Dilley reported that as of mid-January, about 1,400 people were held at Dilley, including 500 children and 450 parents. This situation is unacceptable in the United States of America, and DHS must be held accountable. February 18, 2026

Trump Administration Expands ICE Detention of LEGAL Refugees

Mr. Fong: According to CNN Politics, DHS is broadening ICE authority to detain legal refugees who have not yet obtained green cards. A memo was released to announce this change, citing the need for additional screening of refugees for national security purposes. The memo indicates that immigration officers may “arrest and detain” refugees “who have failed to adjust” to lawful permanent resident status one year after their admission to the US.

Refugees in detention may remain in custody during the examination process. This new policy rescinds previous government guidelines stating that refugees who had been in the country for one year could not be detained or removed for failure to obtain a green card. Previously, refugees who were arrested had to be released within 48 hours, or DHS was required to initiate removal proceedings.

The new policy was implemented in secret, with no coordination with organizations that serve refugees. It is expected to result in the detention and potential deportation of thousands of legally present individuals, people who were welcomed and had already been subjected to extreme vetting. The government court filing that accompanied the memo is part of a federal case in Minnesota in which a judge blocked the Trump administration from targeting about 5,600 lawful refugees who are awaiting green cards.

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is challenging the new refugee policy. The Vice President of US Legal Program at IRAP stated, “This government will clearly stop at nothing to terrorize refugee communities, and really all immigrants, while trampling over our constitutional rights.” The government claims they are following established immigration law that requires refugees to undergo a full inspection after one year in the US.

Trump has halted refugee admissions, with the exception of White South Africans. In 2024, more than 100,000 refugees were admitted, but the annual refugee admission cap is now set at 7,500. The reinterview of certain refugees admitted under the Biden administration was prompted by the tragic killing of two National Guard members in Washington, DC by an Afghan national.

As has often been the case, the Trump administration finds isolated incidents to malign large swaths of people and subsequently makes sweeping policy changes, usually without consulting the many individuals and agencies who are impacted. February 19, 2026

Representatives Plan to Force War Powers Vote on Iran

Mr. Fong: The Hill reported that Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) will force a vote on a resolution requiring authorization from Congress before Trump can use military force against Iran. The Trump administration is threatening strikes on Iran as early as this weekend. With the risk that our troops will be placed in danger in a military confrontation, it is incumbent upon Congress, elected by the people, to vote on decisions regarding military engagement.

The Constitution states that Congress must vote on decisions regarding war. The vote is predicted to be very close. Last month, a vote in the House to limit Trump’s ability to use military power in Venezuela was blocked by Republicans in a 215-215 vote. The latest resolution directs the president “to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for the use of military force against Iran.”

Under the proposed resolution, the US would still be able to defend itself and would not be prevented from gathering and sharing intelligence. I am grateful to these two representatives for standing for the Constitution. I am opposed to the US engaging in military force or provoking a war with Iran. I believe that not enough appropriate effort has been devoted to a diplomatic solution regarding the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program and its terror financing. February 20, 2026

Trump Attempts Diplomacy Without Real Diplomats

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that the president sent his untrained diplomatic corps, consisting of real estate friend Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to negotiate with Iran (as well as handle Ukraine negotiations ON THE SAME DAY), rather than rely on the State Department and the National Security Council which have coordinated negotiations over global crises for nearly 80 years. The stakes are high; the crisis in Iran involves nuclear disagreement, and the war in Ukraine is about to enter its fifth year. The duo takes a transactional approach to negotiations, is accepted and welcomed by Russia, Turkey, and the Arab Gulf states, and is not concerned with human rights or democracy. DESPITE THE URGENCY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED, these negotiations include PERSONAL BUSINESS DEALS. The Russians and Iranians are well aware of Jared Kushner’s position as son-in-law to Trump and have assigned nicknames to him with that distinction. Mr. Kushner was successful in achieving a cease-fire in Gaza which has lent some credibility to his skill as a negotiator. Nevertheless, Iran has temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz which disrupts energy markets. Russia believes it can continue its assault on Ukraine, despite serious economic woes, because without US provision of arms to Ukraine, Russia feels confident it will eventually be able to gain complete control of the Donbas region. As an additional complication, Trump has dangled the possibility of future economic deals between the US and Russia, which diminishes the effects of current sanctions. Trump’s mercurial approach to the nations involved in these matters makes diplomacy extraordinarily difficult. Therefore, having a diplomatic team that is inexperienced provides little assurance to the American people that these global issues will be resolved or will not further escalate. February 21, 2026

Week of February 8th

Trump Excludes Democratic Governors from the National Governors Association Annual Meeting

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that the president has invited only Republican governors for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) later this month. He will hold a separate bipartisan dinner at the White House as part of the events, but he has not invited Democratic Governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado to the dinner. In an interview with CNN, Governor Moore said he did not understand why he was being excluded. However, Politico reported that Governor Moore suggested that his race may be the underlying reason for his exclusion. He is the only Black governor in the country, and only the third ever elected. He is currently serving as the vice chair of the NGA and just led a delegation of governors to the White House several weeks ago. Governor Moore has condemned Trump’s immigration policies and his deployment of the National Guard to address crime in American cities. He supported redrawing Maryland’s voting maps in response to Trump’s efforts to create GOP majority districts in other states. Other governors who have disagreed with the president on these issues have not been excluded from the bipartisan dinner. Governor Moore said the NGA members from both parties will not support the dinner as an NGA event because of his exclusion. Trump’s decision follows his racist posting of former President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for which he refuses to apologize. Governor Moore said he believes that the president’s behavior “highlights the kind of urgency that we have within this moment, that it’s not just the policies that we have continued to see. We are watching a president who is just unchecked.” AND UNCHECKED HE IS. Our local newspaper, The Daily Independent, reported that you secured funding for California’s 20^th District that supports public safety and national security. Funding is definitely part of your responsibility as a representative, Mr. Fong. However, our safety and security are not assured because you are failing to uphold your oath to the Constitution by providing oversight and accountability of the executive branch to prevent abuse of power, fraud, economic mismanagement, and the many other outrageous actions of this administration that deeply divide us and are contrary to our democratic principles. February 8, 2026

Less Than 14% of ICE Arrests Had Violent Criminal Records

Mr. Fong: CBS News reported that of the 400,000 immigrant arrests by ICE during the first year of the Trump administration, less than 14% had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses, according to internal DHS documents. The official statistics have not been publicly reported. Trump asserts that the immigration crackdown is targeting dangerous and violent criminals living in the US illegally, calling them “the worst of the worst.” In reality, the statistics provided by DHS indicate 60% had criminal charges, but the majority were not for violent crimes. The unpublished data say less than 2% of those arrested by ICE over the past year had homicide or sexual assault charges or convictions. Another 2% taken into ICE custody were accused of being gang members. CLOSE TO 40% OF ALL THOSE ARRESTED by ICE in Trump’s first year back in office had NO CRIMINAL RECORD AT ALL. They were accused of civil immigration offenses, such as living in the US illegally or overstaying their visas. Their cases are adjudicated in civil, not criminal, proceedings. Public support for his crackdown has waned in recent months because the tactics employed by ICE and Border Patrol have been too harsh. Support has fallen to 45% from 59% at the beginning of Trump’s term. Between Jan 21, 2025 and Jan 31, 2026, 393,000 arrests were made by ICE. ICE classified 229,000 of those arrests as “criminal aliens” because they had criminal charges or convictions. Approximately 153,000 of the arrests were categorized as “other administrative arrests,” or detentions of immigrants lacking criminal records. Close to 11,000 of the arrests were “criminal arrests” of noncitizens taken into custody because of NEW criminal allegations, such as interfering with operations. The agency made more than TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS during the past year under Trump, whereas it recorded 113,000 administrative arrests during the Biden administration. However, the percentage of ICE arrests of those with criminal histories, went down from 72% in fiscal year 2024 to 60% in Trump’s first year. Roughly 1.9% of the ICE arrests involved gang members such as Tren de Aragua. Trump deported more than 200 men accused of being Tren de Aragua members to a prison in El Salvador, but an investigation showed the majority of those men did not have any criminal records. The numbers based on crimes is reveals that while 2,107 arrests were made for homicides and 5,365 for sexual assault, 29,929 were arrested for DWI/DUI charges. The DHS document indicates that 118,000 detainees had criminal charges for “other” crimes. Those could include immigration related crimes, such as entering the US illegally, a misdemeanor, or re-entering after being deported, which is a felony. The statistics do not include Border Patrol arrests who now operate far from the border and who target laborers at Home Depot parking lots and who stop American citizens to question their immigration status. Clearly, Congress needs to set parameters by which these agencies operate. February 9, 2026

Grand Jury Fails to Indict Democrats for Video Urging Military Not to Follow UNLAWFUL Orders

Mr. Fong: THIS DAY MARKS ONE FULL YEAR of my having submitted to you DAILY letters TO EXPRESS MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. I hope my persistence shows you just how much I love our country. NBC News reported that the Trump administration tried and FAILED to indict Democratic lawmakers for creating a video in which they reminded the military and members of the intelligence community that they must not comply with unlawful orders. Six Democrats (Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Reps Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan) created the video which simply repeated the same message that the military includes in its instruction of the troops. The six lawmakers had all served in the military or in intelligence roles, so they are keenly aware of their responsibilities to the country. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, members of the military are obliged to obey ONLY lawful orders and must refuse those that are illegal. The indictment against the six was led by Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro from the US Attorney’s Office for DC, who is not a career Justice Department prosecutor. Trump accused the lawmakers on Truth Social of “seditious behavior, punishable by death.” A GRAND JURY DECLINED TO INDICT. Prosecuting members of Congress for political speech violates the First Amendment. Additionally, the “speech and debate” clause of the Constitution gives lawmakers immunity from prosecution for acts taken within the legislative domain, a basic check on constitutional separation of powers. In a separate case, a federal judge is expected to rule in coming days on the legality of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions against Senator Mark Kelly to reduce his retirement rank as Navy captain and to censure him. Senator Kelly responded, “Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.” Senator Slotkin commented on social media that the president continues to weaponize the justice system against his perceived enemies, adding, “It’s the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love.” The Trump administration has dismantled the Public Integrity Section that would prevent the Justice Department from abusing powers for political intent. Despite these blows to our democratic system, I am grateful that the courts are still recognizing and upholding the principles that have distinguished the US from corrupt nations. February 10, 2026

Venezuelans Sent to Salvadoran Prison Can Be Returned to US

Mr. Fong: NBC News reported a federal judge ruled last December that the Trump administration should not have sent 137 Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador, CECOT, after the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act. The deported men were not provided due process. Lawyers for the men argued they should have the right to return immediately to the US for a court hearing, or have at least remote hearings about their cases. They had been held for four months in the terrorist confinement center known for its harsh conditions. Last July they were returned to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap between El Salvador and Venezuela. The men say they suffered physical and psychological torture during their imprisonment. US District Judge Boasberg ordered the federal government to facilitate the return of the men to the US or otherwise provide them with hearings. Some of the men are in third countries. Judge Boasberg asked DOJ attorney to return the men to the US to the same condition they were in before they were illegally deported. If returned to the US the men would be required to remain in US custody and could not roam freely. The removal of the men proceeded even though Judge Boasberg ruled at the time to block the deportations and ordered any flights carrying migrants subject to the presidential invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to return to the US. Trump said he was targeting gang members from Tren de Aragua which he deemed as a foreign terrorist organization, thus claiming he could swiftly detain and remove them from the country. The men were targeted primarily from tattoos that were popular in Venezuela but were unrelated to the gang Tren de Aragua. A New York Times investigation found that most of the men had no criminal record or association with Tren de Aragua. The illegal deportation of immigrants has been a terrible stain on the Trump administration and a costly and unnecessary undertaking that impacts all Americans. The problem persists and will likely continue throughout the tenure of this administration unless the courts intervene and/or new legislation is adopted regarding the nation’s immigration process. February 11, 2026

Ice Acting Chief Lyons Admits Immigration Agents Have No Reason to Be at Voting Sites

Mr. Fong: Democracy Docket reported that Acting Chief of ICE Todd Lyons admitted to senators that immigration agents would have “no reason” to be at voting locations in November. The Senate questioned Chief Lyons after the president and his allies threatened voting in the upcoming midterm elections with deployment of ICE agents at polling places. Trump said he believed that Republicans should “nationalize voting,” giving rise to concerns that he is plotting to interfere in this year’s midterms. His history of interference in the 2020 election makes his threats credible. Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon called on the president to use ICE agents to “surround” voting sites in the 2026 elections. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that she “can’t guarantee” that ICE agents would not be near voting locations. The president has ramped up his rhetoric of false claims of widespread voter fraud to convince the public that monitoring the polls would be warranted. Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of CA included an explicit ban on the illegal use of federal law enforcement, intelligence, and the military at polling places in the DHS funding bill that is being debated at this time in Congress. Although federal law already prohibits this type of intimidation of voters, Senator Padilla’s amendment would bar funds from being used for this purpose. Senator Padilla said, “It’s time to send the administration a clear message that the United States of America elections will be decided by the voters –not by force.” During the Senate DHS Committee session, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of MI asked Chief Lyons if federal immigration agents have authority to police polls. “There’s no reason for us to deploy to a polling facility,” Lyons replied, the first time a senior Trump official publicly stated that Ice has no business at voting places. Unfortunately, his statement is not a guarantee that the agents will not deploy to the polls. Lyons would not say whether he would refuse orders from DHS Secretary Noem to go to polls in battleground states such as Georgia or Michigan. He clarified that DHS Investigations, the largest component of the department, is tasked with investigating voter fraud, insinuating the possibility of such an order. Another partial shutdown of the government is imminent unless lawmakers can strike a deal to fund DHS. With our free and fair elections at stake, I applaud Senator Padilla and members of Congress who are willing to protect our rights. February 12, 2026

Trump Elevates Coal Industry, Destroys Environmental Policy, and Further Abandons Democratic Principles

Mr. Fong: Historian Heather Cox-Richardson of Substack reported that Trump was awarded a trophy by coal industry leaders, lawmakers, and miners for being “the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal.” At the award ceremony, Trump signed an executive order which directed the Defense Department to purchase coal-produced power in the sum of billions of dollars. The Department of Energy will allocate $175 million to “modernize, retrofit, and extend” the life of coal-fired power plants in WV, OH, NC, and KY. The New York Times reported that the US has been the largest polluter since the dawn of the industrial era, but carbon dioxide emissions have declined since 2007 with global climate treaties. Since Trump took office last year, and he denounced climate treaties, US emissions have increased 1.9% because of renewed use of coal, the dirtiest of fossil fuels. Having grown up in PA, the granddaughter of a coal miner, I understand first-hand the impact of pollution from coal. My grandfather eventually died from Black Lung Disease. Prior to furnace upgrades in my childhood community, I recall fuel deliveries to our “coal cellar,” which heated our homes, and the painstaking work of washing the black residue from the walls in the unhealthy environment that it created. The Trump administration denies the dangers of climate change and has eliminated the rules which regulate emissions from power plants and vehicles. The EPA went as far as to REVOKE THE SCIENTIFIC FINDING that has been the basis for the regulations. The Washington Post reported that during his campaign, Trump told oil executives that if they raised $1 billion for his campaign, he would eliminate Biden-era regulations and assure that no new regulations would be enacted. These types of nefarious deals (similar to the one reported by the NYTimes in which Trump is threatening to stop the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit, MI and Windsor, Ontario. Canada after billionaire Matthew Moroun, who operates a competing bridge, called Commerce Secretary Lutnick) have become increasingly prevalent in this administration. The construction cost of the Gordie Howe bridge ($4.7 billion) has been fully funded by Canada and is partly owned by MI, so it would be jointly operated. The two bridges would facilitate $300 million in trade between the two countries. Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo explains that a group of worldwide authoritarian governments are building a private world in which deals are done secretly without any democratic accountability, mixing national interests with PERSONAL FINANCIAL interests. This group is able to influence and maintain control over key figures within the group by using compromising material on them. Marshall reports that such a system can be surprisingly stable if everyone participating has some incriminating information on everyone else in the group. Marshall’s explanation parallels former FBI director Robert Mueller’s account in 2011 of multinational organized crime comprised of “organized criminals, corrupt government officials, and business leaders,” all of whom pose a significant threat to national security. Without the oversight of Congress, government officials are running amok, just as we are seeing in the steady flow of executive orders with DUBIOUS INTENT from the president, outrageous defiance and insults of Attorney General Bondi at her congressional hearing, failure of DOJ to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the use of information surveilled from lawmakers search history on DOJ computers to attack them. More than ever, we need a Congress that will stand up to corruption and blatant abuse of power. February 13, 2026

State Department Orders Nonprofit Libraries to Cease Processing Passport Applications

Mr. Fong: The Associated Press reported that the US State Department has ordered certain public libraries across the nation to stop processing passport applications. This order would disrupt a long-standing service that librarians have provided for communities and on which they have come to rely. The State Department began sending cease-and-desist orders to not-for-profit libraries last fall, saying they no longer have authority to participate in the Passport Acceptance Facility program as of last Friday. The State Department argues that the order was issued because federal regulations “clearly prohibit non-governmental organizations” from collecting and retaining fees for passport applications. The service is still provided in government-operating libraries. A state department spokesperson says that over 7,500 facilities nationwide provide passport services and the ones that can no longer do so make up less than one percent of the total. The library associations indicates that approximately 1,400 libraries nationwide would be affected, which is about 15% of all public libraries, depending on the number of those that provide passport services. Democratic and Republican members of Congress from CT, PA, NY, NJ, and MD are sending letters opposing the order and asking to extend the passport services until Congress determines a permanent solution. Libraries are accessible locations for passport applications, especially for working families and rural residents. Demand for passports are surging due to Real ID requirements and in anticipation of Republicans imposing strict new voting rules that would require citizens to show passports or birth certificates to register to vote. Being able to procure these documents would be crucial to assure access to the ballot box. Additionally, people fearing ICE agents feel that they need to confirm their citizenship by carrying passports. In PA, 85% of libraries are non-profit organizations rather than being a department of a local government. In Maine, the number of non-profit libraries is 56%, in New York 47%, and in Connecticut 46%. In some of these states, libraries have provided passport services for more than 20 years. The Trump administration is working in advance of the upcoming elections to make it INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR CITIZENS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. We have reason to be concerned about FREE AND FAIR elections based on Trump’s past attempts to overturn an election and his persistent rhetoric regarding voting fraud that does not exist. We cannot be assured that elections will protect our democratic systems, unless they are FREE AND FAIR. February 14, 2026

Week of February 1st

FBI Raids Georgia Election Office to Take Voter Data

Mr. Fong: PBS News reported that the FBI executed a search warrant at an election center in Fulton County, Georgia seeking voter records from the 2020 election. Trump has been focused on Fulton County since his 2020 presidential loss because of the intense attention that his attempt to extort additional votes (the exact number that he would have needed to win the state of Georgia!) in a recorded call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in 2021. Having his attempts to inject fraud thwarted by Georgia’s upright election officials, he continued to claim voter fraud and had the votes counted three times, once even by hand, to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election. His claims were proven baseless, but he is still unable to accept his loss of the national election and persists in his search of irregularities. The FBI collected physical ballots, envelopes, provisional ballots, ballot images, and voter rolls during the raid. In his recent speech in Davos, Switzerland, Trump promised that people would soon be prosecuted for what they did in the 2020 election. Trump has been asking states for their voter information and has hinted that he could use the National Guard to secure upcoming elections. Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that the president’s efforts to relitigate the 2020 election is dangerous for the integrity of our election process. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams indicated that 24 states are in litigation with DOJ for their voter rolls. He has complied with the federal government by handing over certain voter information that by law in Kentucky is available to the public but has retained residents’ personally identifying information such as driver’s license number and Social Security number. Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Minnesota governor, who is currently dealing with massive immigration raids by ICE, that turning over his voter rolls could be a condition for ICE’s departure from the state, insinuating that the goal of ICE was not to apprehend undocumented immigrants in Minnesota but to have leverage to gain access to Minnesota’s voting data. Maine and Minnesota are the top two states in voter participation in the nation. The Constitution has the states, not the federal government, in charge of elections. People put their trust in the elected officials in their states to conduct free and fair elections. Even though states may disagree on certain voting rights, state officials seem to be in bipartisan agreement regarding the integrity of election administration and local control. I am highly opposed to the federal government’s meddling in state elections. February 1, 2026

Director Gabbard Under Scrutiny for Presence at FBI Raid of Georgia Election Center

Mr. Fong: NBC News reported that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is prohibited by law from taking part in domestic law enforcement. Yet, she was present at the FBI seizure of voter information in Fulton County, Georgia. Even if there were criminal activity in the Georgia election, it would not have been under the jurisdiction of Director Gabbard. However, when the president was watching the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Director Gabbard was not present. Instead, she was on a beach in Hawaii practicing yoga. The military operation in Venezuela was a high-stakes and sensitive operation, so the timing of the director’s vacation brings attention to her falling out with the president at the time of the bombing of Iran. At that time, the president argued that Iran was close to being capable of developing a nuclear weapon to justify the US bombing, and Director Gabbard publicly disagreed with that assessment. A senior administration official was asked why Director Gabbard was present at the FBI raid in Georgia and he said, “Director Gabbard has a pivotal role in election security and protecting the integrity of our elections against interference, including operations targeting voting systems, databases, and election infrastructure. She has and will continue to take action on President Trump’s directive to secure our elections and work with our interagency partners to do so.” Other officials indicated her presence was unnecessary and had not been requested by the Justice Department. One official said, “it seems to be an attempt to make herself relevant.” At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Democratic Virginia Senator Mark Warner criticized Gabard’s presence in Georgia, saying it was part of a pattern of blurring the line between intelligence work and domestic politics. If Director Gabbard believed that the case had a link to foreign intelligence, her presence would be legitimate, but then she would be derelict in her responsibility to inform Congress. Senator Warner accused Gabbard of a “domestic political stunt designed to legitimize conspiracy theories that undermine our democracy” regarding election integrity. She should be focused on foreign threats, not domestic ones and “when intelligence authorities are turned inwards the results can be devasting for Americans’ privacy and civil liberties.” Last year, Gabbard dismantled a center to track foreign actors seeking to interfere in American elections at the same time that the Justice and State Departments shut down similar offices. Americans should be keenly aware that Trump has his sights set on corrupting our elections just as he attempted during the 2020 cycle. February 2, 2026

MEGA Bill Threatens Election Process

Mr. Fong: The Cato Institute reported that while the SAVE Act focuses on requiring voters to produce documents to prove citizenship when registering to vote (which makes voting for women more difficult if they have married and changed their names to those of their spouses), the MEGA Act, introduced by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Bryan Steil, the chair of the House Administration Committee, is far more complex and heavily involves the federal government. It imposes a strict photo ID requirement, while creating a centralized voter surveillance system in every state. The bill mandates constant voter roll purges and eliminates the “Motor Voter” law that expanded access to voter registration. Counting ballots that arrive after Election Day would be barred, as well as universal mail voting where ballots are mailed to all registered voters. Federal funding for voter registration by outside groups would be prohibited and lawsuits against election officials would be unleashed. Having elections conducted by states protects the system’s security from being targeted by a single hack that would disrupt elections in all 50 states. Demographic considerations, such as when large geographic areas can be accommodated with mail-in voting, allow states to conduct elections based on their unique conditions. Election officials have shared the accommodations that have been successful in their states with other states so that processes can be improved. Fourteen states and Washington DC have allowed accepting ballots that are sent on Election Day but arrive after Election Day. Eighteen states allow voters to give their sealed mail ballot packets to their neighbors for delivery. The goal has been to make the voting process secure, but accessible to as many citizens as possible. CNN reported that Trump called on Republicans (not Congress) to “nationalize the voting.” During a podcast interview with former deputy director of the FBI Dan Bongino, Trump said, “The Republicans should say, we want to take over, we should take over the voting, the voting in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.” These comments are chilling when just a few days earlier, Trump had the FBI search and confiscate voter data from the 2020 election in Fulton County, GA, STILL claiming voter fraud WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE. The president continues his delusion that he won the 2020 election and is taking extreme measures to convince the public to share his delusion. He alleges that non-citizens are voting in great numbers and altering election outcomes. In Fulton County, nine non-citizens voted out of tens of millions of voters. The president, in his desperation to avoid the appearance of being a loser, also encouraged a mid-decade redistricting campaign to help Republicans win additional US House seats in the upcoming midterm elections. At the president’s direction, the Justice Department is suing twenty-four states to take over their voter rolls which include voters’ personal information. The country cannot allow the serious mental health of the president with his tremendous need for validation and power to undo nearly 250 years of our democratic process. These proposed changes violate the Constitution and strip power from the American people. February 3, 2026

Congress Could Gut Voting Rights

Mr. Fong: NBC News reported that Senate GOP Leader Thune tried to counter Trump’s statement that Republicans should nationalize voting. Senator Thune that he did not agree with the president’s idea and conceded that it is “a constitutional issue.” States operate elections, and although Congress can pass federal regulations per Article I, the Constitution clearly grants the responsibility of elections to states. Thune said he is “a big believer in decentralized and distributed power” and that he believes the system has worked well. The White House responded with the president’s desire to safeguard the voter process with the American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act which would bring uniformity to voting across the states. This act would make voting much more difficult in many states, rather than involve more Americans in the process. House Speaker Mike Johnson also agreed that the voting system operated by the states works well, but like the president insinuated that “some of the blue states” have not been doing it well, even though NO ONE HAS PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF IMPROPRIETY and Speaker Johnson admits that he is UNABLE TO PROVE CORRUPT ACTIVITY. According to the president and Speaker Johnson, conducting the elections “well” seems to mean that Republicans should ALWAYS WIN, regardless of the actual votes cast by the American people. Trump purports to have won in many districts where he clearly lost. His incessant rhetoric about voter fraud is an attempt to convince Americans that voting systems are flawed when they are not. He is frontloading to prepare for Republican losses in the upcoming midterm elections. We have seen that the president pushes all laws to the limit to see how much he can achieve without pushback from the courts. The NYTimes reported that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump’s push for nationalizing voting was actually just a reference to the SAVE Act. However, Trump never made reference to the SAVE Act which does not nationalize elections. The SAVE Act passed in the House last year, but not in the Senate where it would require a 60-vote threshold. California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff warned, “In his first term, Donald Trump pressured and threatened and coerced and incited –all in attempt to rig an election and overturn its result to cling to power. We cannot miss the signs that he is going to try again. Don’t take my word for it. Take his.” Senator Schiff’s warning should be heeded. February 4, 2026

Fulton County, Georgia Will Sue Trump Administration Over Seizure of 2020 Election Records

Mr. Fong: NBC News reported that attorneys for Fulton County, Georgia will file a lawsuit in federal court against the FBI and the Justice Department over execution of a search warrant at an election center to obtain voter records from the 2020 presidential election. The suit challenges the legality of the warrant and the seizure of sensitive election data and forces the government to return the seized ballots. The country attorney requests that the documents remain in the State of Georgia under seal to protect voter information. Hundreds of boxes of ballots, ballot images, and voter rolls were seized by the FBI under the search warrant. A separate court order had allowed the FBI only to copy records. Election officials claim that they cannot verify that they received everything back because there was no chain of custody inventory taken when the records were seized and they were not notified of the location of the seized data. The FBI refused to comment on potential ongoing litigation. FBI Director Kash Patel indicated the FBI would go through the information that was collected and continue its investigation. The president continues to insist that the 2020 election was stolen from him although there is no evidence. He lost by 7 million votes. Georgia was among a number of states in which Trump tried to overturn the election results just after the election. The president continues to direct the DOJ, which is supposed to act as an independent department of the government, to search for, or perhaps invent, fraud to support his claim that he won the election. The results were previously checked numerous times with no corruption found. In addition to soothing his wounded fragile ego, the president persists in his efforts to sow doubt in the election process among the American people ahead of the next election. He is alluding to having voter data confiscated in other cities such as Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, despite having no cause to suspect corruption other than he did not win in those cities. Nevertheless, he says, “If they can’t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over.” Will no one stand up to the president and tell him to stop these antics that are a waste of taxpayer dollars? February 5, 2026

Autocratic Meddling in Elections

Mr. Fong: The Atlantic reported on the tactics that autocrats use to interfere with election processes. As a government official who was elected in a democratic system, you should be concerned about the threats to our voting system and what its decay would portend for future generations. Voter suppression focuses on three components: ability to register to vote and remain on the rolls, ability to cast a ballot, and assurance that the ballots are lawfully counted. With the erosion of the Voting Rights Act and the president’s rhetoric, all three of these components are being attacked. Recent proposed legislation seeks to make registering to vote more difficult, as well as for citizens to remain on the rolls. Gerrymandering, which the president called for off cycle while pressuring state governors to give his party advantage, had been moving towards decisions made by nonpartisan commissions in many states. Usually, the process happens locally following a census and is not a national project called by the president. In the past, when lines were drawn that did not conform with population, courts would evaluate and adjudicate to assure fairness. The president wants lines drawn based on voter outcome, diminishing voters’ power to elect their leaders. In response to this illegitimate gerrymandering by Republican states, Democratic states followed suit to even the playing field and in essence to stop the advance of authoritarianism. The proposed SAVE Act requires that voter registrants present not just their driver’s license or ID, but also a passport or birth certificate, documents that are more challenging and costly to procure. Many citizens will not achieve this additional hurdle prior to the election. The voters that would be most impacted are women who have changed their names after marriage, and transgender people who have changed their names. The result would be millions of people being disenfranchised because their names would not match their birth certificates and Social Security cards. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP AND IDENTITY ARE ALREADY REQUIRED in the voter registration process. Encouraging involvement in the voting process is already challenging, but if additional requirements are added, many will not make additional effort. Blacks born during Jim Crow were not legally permitted to be born in a hospital, so the birth certificate that was filed with the county was not the original one from a hospital. Thousands of Black people do not have an original birth certificate. Working-class Americans often do not have a passport, or the economic means to get one. An estimated 146 million Americans do not have passports. By changing the requirements, millions of people will not be able to participate in elections. These restrictions would impact people from both parties, so the system will be diminished for EVERYONE. When voters stop trying to participate in the process, and fewer people are deciding the outcome, the federal government can more easily control and manipulate data. Threats of paramilitary masked ICE agents patrolling polling places instill fear in people who are legally able to vote, but who, because of recent racial profiling and arrests, would risk dangerous situations for themselves and their family members by showing up at the polls. The purchase by US billionaires who support Trump of TikTok, the medium through which half of young voters get their election information, will influence perceptions and serve as a voting suppression tool. The president insists that elections have been “rigged” despite lack of proof. His messaging, along with his recent confiscation of Fulton County, Georgia election data from the 2020 election, perpetuates the idea that ballots are not being honestly counted. Authoritarians do not just upset single elections; they install a system that lacks accountability and has unchecked power. The Trump administration has thwarted democratic principles from many angles (e.g., stripping Congress of its oversight, using military force unlawfully, building a paramilitary force to intimidate citizens, transforming a nonpartisan civil service to a biased one, directing cryptocurrency profits to Congressional campaigns, etc.). Voting STILL resides under state and local jurisdiction. Congress should be doing EVERYTHING it can to protect our voting system, one of the final vestiges of our Constitutional federation. February 6, 2026

Trump issues ANOTHER Racist Post

Mr. Fong: ABC News reported that Trump posted on his social media platform late on Thursday night a video that included a racist video animation of the faces of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama superimposed on the body of apes. The disgusting post of the video that lasted approximately one minute focused on the 2020 election. Press Secretary Leavitt excused the president from the 11:45pm posting by saying that it was simply about Trump being the King of the Jungle with Democrats serving as characters from THE LION KING. She said, “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.” Secretary Leavitt should know that this video MATTERS TO ME and likely matters to many decent Americans. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle condemned the post, asked for it to be taken down, and expected the president to apologize. To defend the Obamas and all people of color, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a statement saying, “President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, compassionate and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. Donald Trump is a vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder.” Later, the White House tried to excuse the president, saying an intern was responsible for the post, and it was finally taken down. The president did not blame an intern but pleaded ignorance, as he often does, saying he only looked at the beginning of the video. He does not believe he owes anyone an apology. The only Black Republican Senator Tim Scott said that he hoped the post was fake. Sadly, it was not a fake and as Americans have seen before, Trump’s character is far, far, far beneath the office that he has been entrusted to hold. We all hang our heads in shame for his loathsome behavior. February 7, 2026

Week of January 25th

ICE Is Out of Control

Mr. Fong: ABC News reported that an Army veteran was detained by ICE for eight hours during which time he was not permitted to call his attorney or his family. Purple Heart and Medal of Valor recipient William Vermie, 39-years old, was tackled and arrested by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this month while standing on a public sidewalk observing the detention of two men and was brought to the Henry Whipple Federal Building. DHS alleges that Vermie was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer. Even though his wife had contacted an attorney for him, he was never able to speak to the attorney during his detention. “We’re entitled to counsel. It’s part of the Bill of Rights. Even if you are here illegally and you are a foreign national, you are entitled to legal representation,” Vermie said. Multiple attorneys have attested to the fact that thousands of people arrested in Ice operations in Minneapolis have been denied their constitutional right to see an attorney. These arrests are in violation of Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights to due process and right to consult with counsel, respectively. This denial of rights is UNPRECEDENTED according to attorneys interviewed by ABC News. DHS denies the attorneys’ claims. Vermie said he is speaking out about his experience because it is his “civic duty.” He added, “I have privilege. I was medically retired. I’m a combat vet. I’m white. I’m middle class. If I can’t advocate for people who need it, then who else is going to do it? Who else is going to stand up and speak truth to power?” Vermie’s attorney said he was never able to contact his wife who had her phone on constantly by her side. The attorney added, “My client was snatched off the streets by masked ICE agents in retaliation for peacefully protesting.” Vernie alleges that one of the ICE agents tried unsuccessfully to trip him. Then, three or four other agents grabbed his limbs and wrestled him to the ground, handcuffed him, and took him to the Whipple Building. He denies impeding their operation and believes their actions were illegal. Vermie’s attorney said NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED against Vermie. A spokesperson for DHS said more than 3,000 arrests have been made as part of their operation, including nearly 150 US citizens accused of alleged assault or obstructing law enforcement. CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT to withhold funding from DHS until they are able to train their agents appropriately and conduct themselves LEGALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. The goal seems to be to instill fear in American communities to deter peaceful protest of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. I applaud William Vermie for his bravery in bringing attention to his case. Two individuals have been senselessly killed, and Americans have no trust of this lawless enforcement agency. January 25, 2026

Republican Drops Gubernatorial Bid in Minnesota

Mr. Fong: The Washington Post reported that Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, who was running for Governor in Minnesota, ended his campaign because of his disapproval of the national GOP’s “retribution” on the state of Minnesota with ICE operations employed there. “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so,” he said. Mr. Madel’s announcement came two days after the brutal and senseless shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, the second victim of a shooting by ICE in several weeks. Madel was very critical of Operation Metro Surge, the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which, in Mr. Madel’s words “expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats.” Madel had provided legal counsel for Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good, the first ICE shooting victim. He explained that he helped Ross complete a form because he believes “the constitutional right to counsel is sacrosanct.” Now, after witnessing how Operation Metro Surge is being conducted, and the response of Secretary of DHS Noem in which she describes the shootings in absolute contradiction to videos captured of the events, Mr. Madel said, “United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship –that’s wrong.” He also condemned the reported authorization for ICE agents to raid homes using only civil warrants signed by federal immigration officers (not judicial warrants) as unconstitutional. Recognizing the Trump administration’s decision to deploy DHS in Minnesota and the opening of investigations against Democratic Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Frey as a means of retribution, Mr. Madel said, “Weaponizing criminal investigation against political opponents is unconstitutional, regardless of who is in power.” Although Mr. Madel supported Trump’s handling of some foreign policy when he chose to run for governor, he said then that the president’s immigration operations in Minnesota were an “unmitigated disaster.” It is always a good day when rational thinking wins over blinding submission to a party gone awry. January 26, 2026

Senator Cassidy Expresses Concerns Over DHS and ICE

Mr. Fong: The Hill reported that Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of LA expressed concern about ICE and the DHS reputations in light of a second fatal shooting in Minnesota. Senator Cassidy stated, “The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHR are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.” Minnesota public safety teams have been blocked from participating in any federal investigation of the shooting. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that after the FBI left the scene, the area was overrun with protestors, so they could not reexamine that scene. Normally, law enforcement entities work collaboratively on investigations, and they would have coordinated to keep the area blocked from outside contamination. Trump has endorsed candidate Julia Letlow for Cassidy’s seat, likely because Cassidy has expressed his disapproval of some of the president’s policies. Unless a Republican is willing to submit totally to the president’s will, he or she is considered unfit in the eyes of this administration. I believe that Senator Cassidy’s assessment of the failings of DHS and ICE are accurate (with MUCH MORE than their reputations at stake!) and the president would be well advised to hold a joint federal and state investigation of the killings in Minnesota and others across the nation. Unfortunately, since the president selected his cabinet with the idea of creating a kakistocracy rather than a cadre of experienced, capable individuals to operate the government, he must now face the consequences of their serious and incessant blunders as they fumble to implement his unacceptable policies that reverse the principles of democracy. Thus far, the remedy seems to be to fabricate lies about facts which, with video evidence, are obviously unbelievable. January 27, 2026

Senator Rand Paul Summons Trump Immigration Officials to Testify

Mr. Fong: Politico reported that Kentucky Republican Rand Paul will request testimony from DHS leaders on February 12, 2026. Senator Paul is chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He is calling three top immigration enforcement officials to testify before his panel following the second killing of a Minneapolis observer by federal agents. Senator Paul said, “As you know, the Department of Homeland Security has been provided an exceptional amount of funding to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Congress has an obligation to conduct oversight of those tax dollars and ensure the funding is used to accomplish the mission, provide proper support for our law enforcement and most importantly, protect the American people.” The senator did not mention the recent shootings in his request letters, but the hearing will be the first opportunity senators will have to question Trump administration officials about the shootings and the president’s broader immigration agenda. Indiana Republican Senator Todd Young said he supports a “full and transparent investigation in the tragic event in Minneapolis. Congress has requested testimony from ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders in an open hearing, and they should testify soon.” Senator Young is not a member of Senator Paul’s committee. However, he expressed to Politico that “Providing the American people with the full facts is an important part of maintaining public trust. We also need state and local officials to better cooperate with federal enforcement efforts.” I am heartened to see that at least several Republicans are moved to face the facts of these horrible and unnecessary killings by rogue agencies of our government. The embers of our scorched Constitutional rights still glow brightly enough to bring some Republicans to their senses. January 28, 2026

ICE Enters Ecuador’s US Consulate in Minneapolis Unlawfully

Mr. Fong: The Associated Press and Reuters reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Ecuador has filed a protest with the US Embassy in Quito because ICE agents attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minnesota without permission. According to the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the premises of consulates may not be entered without specific consent by the head of the consular post. The consulate staff in Minneapolis prohibited the agents from entry which assured the protection of the Ecuadorean nationals in the building. The incursion came during a mass deportation operation by 3,000 heavily armed ICE and Border Patrol agents. According to eyewitnesses, the agents were pursuing two individuals in an attempt to apprehend them when they entered the consulate. Under international treaty, embassies, consular offices, and other diplomatic compounds are regarded as sovereign territory and are protected from unauthorized entry by agents of other governments. The Trump administration needs to review international and domestic law and train their law enforcement personnel to adhere to law while they attempt to enforce others. Since the US attack on sovereign Venezuela, the administration seems to believe it is not subject to international law. January 29, 2026

Secretary of State Rubio Finally Testifies Regarding Venezuelan Takeover

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that Secretary of State Rubio appeared before the Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday in a hearing that was a long-time coming to answer concerns expressed about the military operation in Venezuela on January 3, and the current status of the country’s control. Congress had not been consulted before the military operation occurred, resulting in the capture of Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Lawmakers were especially concerned about current US policy toward the country. In Rubio’s written statement, he warned that the US was “prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation, if other methods fail” from current acting-president and close ally to Maduro, Delcy Rodriguez. Acts of war require the consent of Congress. However, Secretary Rubio said in his oral statements that the Trump administration had established a “very respectful and productive line of communication” with Rodriguez’s government and does not “intend or expect” to use military force “at any time.” Cooperation is based on Venezuela’s oil industry. According to Rubio, the US will help Venezuela’s government fund public services through a “short-term mechanism” by using proceeds from the sale of oil that is subject to US sanctions. Venezuela will use a substantial amount of the funds to buy medicine, equipment, etc. from the US. In an arrangement that Rubio called “novel,” the funds would be held in an offshore account controlled by Qatar and eventually be transferred to a US Treasury account. Rubio explained that a third-party account was necessary because US sanctions on Venezuela and US creditors to whom the country owes money from its seizure of American energy company assets 20 years ago would complicate disbursement. Some Democrats were skeptical about the legality of this arrangement, for which the written agreement with Venezuela has not been released. Rep Lloyd Doggett of Texas asked why instead of Qatar, “a country with stronger banking laws and a history of robust management of oil revenues” had not been selected. Rep Doggett expressed concern that Rodriguez would use the revenue to pay off paramilitary groups and drug cartels to maintain control over the country. The plan also shields money from creditors, “unlawfully refusing to honor debts owed to US institutions.” Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said, “You are taking their oil at gunpoint. You’re deciding how and for what purposes that money is going to be used in a country of 30 million people. I think a lot of us believe that that is destined for failure.” With Trump’s history of unsuccessful and shady “deals,” I share the lawmaker’s lack of confidence in this questionable arrangement. January 30, 2026

Representative Omar Sprayed with a Substance During Public Address

Mr. Fong: The NYTimes reported that after years of Trump targeting Representative Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, she was attacked by a man who rushed her while she spoke at an event in Minneapolis. The man sprayed her with an unknown substance, later identified as vinegar, before being tackled by security officers. Threats against Rep Omar have surged with the president’s deprecating remarks about her in which he refers to her as “garbage,” mocks the hijab she wears as part of her Muslim faith by calling it a “little turban,” and even says she should return to the country from which she immigrated, which he vulgarly referred to as a “shithole” country. Rep Omar did not retreat from the attack but reacted defiantly and lunged towards her attacker. She insisted on completing her remarks, even when her security discouraged her from continuing, and she did not alter her speaking events later in the week. The president’s rhetoric has included violent slurs which motivate extremists and provoke aggressive behavior towards the representative. The president tried to downplay this latest situation by saying he believed she staged the attack! He has targeted Somali Americans in general, saying, “I don’t want them in our country.” At political rallies he has incited the crowd against Rep Omar by saying, “Throw her the hell out!” causing them to shout, “Send her back!” Rep Omar was 8-years old when her family immigrated to the US to escape civil war, after having lived in a refugee camp for four years in Kenya. She became an American citizen and was elected in 2018 as one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress. The president’s behavior towards Rep Omar is reprehensible. No matter their political disagreements, no one should be treated with such little respect and dignity. The president continues to stoop to new lows, and we should NEVER become used to disgusting, abominable behavior from the leader of our nation. January 31, 2026

Week of January 18th

Trump Threatens Increased Tariffs on Countries That Disagree With His Greenland Plans

Mr. Fong:

CNN reported that Trump announced the US will impose new tariffs if a deal is not reached for the US purchase of Greenland. A 10% tariff on “any and all goods” from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be imposed starting February 1 and will increase to 25% on June 1 until an agreement is reached. Trump posted on Truth Social, “We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration. Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back –World Peace is at stake!” Trump also warned that the deployment of military personnel to Greenland created “a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen indicated that he had a constructive meeting with JD Vance and Marco Rubio earlier in the week, so the president’s reaction was surprising. In reference to the NATO military exercises in Greenland last week which showed support for Denmark, Rasmussen said, “We agree with the US that we need to do more since the Arctic is no longer a low-tension area. That’s exactly why we and NATO partners are stepping up in full transparency with our American allies.” It is unclear if the 10% tariff will be added to what the European nations are already paying. EU lawmakers called for a suspension of the trade agreement it had reached with the US last year. Normally, tariffs are under jurisdiction of Congress, but Trump will use executive order to impose the additional tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which he has been using to levy tariffs to bend countries to his will. The Supreme Court will rule whether Trump has authority to use these emergency powers in the weeks to come. The law makes no mention of tariffs. If Trump is unable to use this Act, he has other laws at his disposal, but they limit the scope and length of time that they can be used. The limitations may not allow him to use tariffs as a device to pressure other countries to get what he wants. European leaders said these tariffs are “unacceptable” and they are prepared to respond in a coordinated manner. The leaders said that threats have no place among allies, and that differences should be resolved through discussion, not pressure. The EU has called an emergency meeting of ambassadors from the EU’s 27 countries. Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Greenland and Denmark over Trump’s threats to take Greenland, many carrying signs that say, “Yankees go home” and “Greenland is already great.” One protester said, “We have seen what (Trump) does in Venezuela and Iran. He doesn’t respect anything. He just takes what he thinks is his…He misuses his power.” The delegation of US legislators that are in Denmark this weekend expressed their respect for the indigenous people of Greenland, trying to diffuse the anger aroused by Trump’s statements. Senate Minority Leader Schumer said that Senate Democrats will introduce legislation to block the tariffs “before they further damage to the American economy and our allies in Europe.” Republicans are also expressing their disagreement. Republican Rep Don Bacon of NE said Trump’s threats are “shameful” and that because “Greenland is part of NATO’s umbrella,” the president has what he needs to put more bases there. According to a CNN poll, three-quarters of Americans are opposed to the US taking control of Greenland. I am opposed to Trump’s attempts to take yet another sovereign territory and to his outrageous treatment of our allies.

Injustice and Civil Rights

Mr. Fong:

The Trump administration has worked diligently to cloud truth and confuse the public to gain trust and power. The great civil rights leader, Reverand Martin Luther King, Jr., whom we honor today, said in 1947, “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.” At this difficult time when the Trump administration rolls back our hard-fought civil rights, works to erase the concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our very diverse society, denies equal access to basic needs, and defies the rule of law, we look for strength and inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr. While jailed in solitary confinement in Birmingham, Alabama in April 1963 for participating in non-violent anti-segregation demonstrations, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote the following, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” We will continue to educate the public and stand against injustice through non-violent protest, just as this noble man did.

Legislation Introduced to Restrain Political Appointees to be Nominated for Inspecter General Positions

Mr. Fong:

ABC News reported that Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced legislation this week, The Inspector General’s Independence Act, which would bar the current and future presidents from nominating political appointees who serve or who have served in their administration from serving as an Inspector General. Inspector Generals are supposed to be independent and to be able to monitor activity in various departments of government, assuring that partisan leanings and corruption are not undertaken. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNILATERALLY DISMISSED 17 INSPECTOR GENERALS IN VARIOUS AGENCIES AT THE BEGINNING OF TRUMP’S SECOND TERM. At that time, both Republican and Democratic legislators raised concerns about the impact that these firings would have on partisanship and the independence of the positions. Lawsuits were filed in the courts and are still underway which are assert the firings were illegal. Senator Duckworth’s legislation, as she explains it, “will make it very clear that what he did was illegal, and not just leave it to the courts to interpret existing law.” As an example of why this legislation is needed, Senator Duckworth states that Cheryl Mason was confirmed as Inspector General of Veterans Affairs. She had been serving as a senior advisor to Trump’s Veterans Affairs Secretary at the time of her nomination. Democrats spoke up about Ms. Mason’s ability to serve as an independent watchdog for an agency in which she had served as a political advisor. Ms. Mason claimed she was impartial and would provide information in a nonpartisan manner. Although some Republicans raised concerns about her ability to remain independent, all Republicans voted to confirm her. The legislation is being co-sponsored by Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Adam Schiff, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Peter Weich. Currently, no Republicans have stepped up to co=sponsor. Will the legislation have enough support to pass through the chambers of Congress, and will Trump sign it into law? Fair legislation that keeps everyone honest is what is needed now MORE THAN EVER, especially during an administration that has done its best to avoid fairness and rule of law.

Trump’s Speech at Davos World Economic Forum

Mr. Fong:

We observed today, along with the rest of the world, Trump’s rambling, shameful speech in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in which he insulted and bullied numerous state leaders, criticized and minimized the importance of NATO, lambasted former President Biden, and exaggerated and outright lied about the economic strength of our country. Trump ruled out using military force to takeover Greenland, but he made it clear to those countries who object to making Greenland (which he called “Iceland” several times during the speech) a part of the United States, that they would face repercussions, most likely through tariffs. Trump threatened, “You can say ‘yes,’ and we will be very appreciative, or you can say ‘no’ and we will remember.” He announced that his plan for Greenland is to build a missile defense system (Golden Dome). European leaders understood that although the threat of military action to take Greenland is off the table for now, tariffs are a war in their own right. Although some sort of agreement that has not yet been disclosed has been reached to appease Trump, the world understands the enormous impact this day has had on world order. Our more than 80-year alliance with Europe has been “ruptured” and we will stand alone, despite the fact that most Americans still hold the values and integrity that these allied democratic nations continue to embrace. The American people were not consulted on this dramatic pivot that Trump has been threatening for our nation, and we will not be able to restore our relationships and the trust that had been built over the years with our European partners long after Donald Trump is gone from our political landscape. As citizens, we feel betrayed and mischaracterized on the world stage and ashamed of the president’s lack of understanding of our history. We also understand that in addition to the destruction of our national character, Trump has weakened our economic future. This is a very sad day in American history.

Former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Open Congressional Hearing

Mr. Fong:

The Associated Press reported former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith’s congressional hearing at which time Mr. Smith defended his investigations of Donald Trump and stood by the criminal charges that he brought against the president. “No one should be above the law in our country, and the law required that he be held to account. So that is what I did,” Smith said. He revealed he collected ample evidence to indict Trump in separate cases that accused him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election after he lost to Joe Biden, and of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left the White House. “Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity. If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat.” Republicans attacked Smith as an overly aggressive prosecutor. They were particularly critical of subpoenaed phone records of a group of Republican lawmakers around the time of the Jan 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol. Smith indicated that he gathered the incoming and outgoing calls and the duration of the calls, but not the content. The investigation of the calls was relevant to the case because Trump and his surrogates were contacting members of Congress to pressure them to delay the certification of the 2020 election. Smith explained that “collecting phone records is a common prosecutorial tactic and essential in this instance to help prosecutors understand the scope of the conspiracy.” He described a wide-ranging conspiracy to overturn the results of the election and indicated Trump would not listen to advisors who told him the election was valid. Smith indicated the most important witnesses in the case were fellow Republicans who had campaigned and voted for Trump and wanted him to win. One of the most powerful statements of the hearing was when Smith said, “I believe that if we don’t call people to account when they commit crimes in this context, it can endanger our election process, it can endanger elections workers, and ultimately, our democracy.” Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio tried to say the investigation was purely political, stating, “We should never forget what took place, what they did to the guy we, the people elected twice.” Ironically, Jordan was admitting in his statement that Trump won TWICE, the 2016 and the 2024 elections, not the THREE elections Donald Trump professes he won, which was the basis of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Trump went on to try to silence and intimidate potential witnesses against him. Smith reminded Jordan and Rep Ben Cline of VA that although Trump’s campaign was underway, and Smith was being accused of hindering Trump’s free speech by issuing a court order to prohibit him from making incendiary comments about witnesses in the case, speech used for criminal purpose is not protected under free speech. Because the investigation of the classified document case has not been released by Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon, a discussion could not ensue about details of that case. The American public has every right to hear the evidence of these two cases. Even if we cannot have the satisfaction of justice being served since the cases did not go to trial, documenting the criminal behavior of the president and all those who supported and continue to support his criminal behavior for posterity is crucial for the future of our nation.

Trump DOJ Opens Investigations on Minnesota Governor and Minneapolis Mayor

Mr. Fong:

According to NPR, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have been added to DOJ opened investigations, adding to the LONG LIST of individuals (from Protect Democracy and ABC News) against whom the president seeks revenge: Jerome Powell, Mark Kelly, Kat Abughazaleh, John Bolton, Lisa Cook, Adam Schiff, James Comey, John Brennan, Brad Lander, Alex Padilla, David Huerta, Letitia James, LaMonica McIver, Ras Baraka, Honorable Hannah Dugan, Chris Krebs, Miles Taylor, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Eric Swawell, Jack Smith, Chris Christie, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden, Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook, Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci, Anthony Blinken, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Alvin Bragg, Andrew Weissmann, Hillary Clinton, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, Kimberly Cheatle, James Clapper, Michael Hayden, Leon Panetta, Thomas Fingar, Richard Ledgett, Michael Morell, Michael Vickers, Douglas Wise, Nicholas Rasmussen, Russell Travers, Andrew Liepman, John Moseman, Larry Pfeiffer, Jeremy Bash, Rodney Snyder, Glen Gerstell, David Buckley, 50 former intelligence officials associated with Hunter Biden laptop probe, 37 former intelligence leaders associated with assessment of Russia’s attempt to influence the 2016 election, Law Firms: Covington & Burling, Perkins Cole, Jenner & Block, Milbank, WilmerHale, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and JP Morgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon. The extensive list contains names that have received much media attention, and others who are less known because they are either civil servants who were merely doing their jobs to investigate Trump, or critics of the president. Governor Walz and Mayor Frye were issued grand jury subpoenas in a probe alleging that Minnesota officials conspired to impede law enforcement during the government immigration crackdown. Mayor Frey accuses the federal government of weaponizing its power to intimidate local leaders. Minnesota protestors are out in great numbers to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which ICE raids have been conducted, often with brutality and violence, terrorizing their communities and taking immigrants away without due process. Community leaders, businesses, and residents are also responding to the unnecessary fatal shooting of a 37-year-old protester, Renee Good, earlier this month and the manner in which the case has been treated. No investigation is being conducted of the agent who fired three shots at Ms. Good at close range as she attempted to drive away. The president dismissed the shooting saying, “They’re going to make mistakes. Sometimes ICE is going to be too rough with somebody, or you know, they’re dealing with rough people.” Minnesota Attorney General Ellison brought a lawsuit against the Trump administration over ICE’s operations in the region just before Governor Walz and Mayor Frey were issued subpoenas. Under the Trump administration, we are witnessing historic erosion of the rule of law.

Another American Citizen Killed by ICE in Minnesota

Mr. Fong:

The NYTimes reported that videos of another fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis this morning contradict federal accounts of the killing. Secretary Noem’s narrative about the incident does not accurately match the video that Americans have widely seen of the shooting, in which Secretary Noem characterizes Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive-care nurse and American citizen, as a domestic terrorist. Secretary Noem indicated he was a threat to the lives of the agents because he approached them with a handgun with intent to “massacre” them, warranting his shooting. NYTimes analysis of the video shows he was holding a phone, not a gun. Mr. Pretti was pushed to the ground and then shot while being restrained by numerous ICE agents. Minnesota officials are pleading with the Trump administration to remove ICE from their communities because rather than making the state safer, they are instigating violence against its residents during aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Mayor Frey is asking a federal judge to order an end to the immigration operation and has a court hearing scheduled for Monday. Minnesota officials deployed the National Guard in an effort to restore calm among angry residents who renewed protests as a result of yet another senseless killing. State officials are asking Minnesota Congressional Republicans to join Democrats in condemning the violence and to refuse to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrat Senator Tina Smith of MN said, “All Americans should be outraged. If it can happen here, it can happen in your community too.” As we watch the authoritarian tactics of the Trump administration unfold, Senator Smith’s warning should be heeded.

Week of January 11th

Trump Administration Restricts Congress from Inspecting ICE Facilities

Mr. Fong:

CBS News reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is again restricting members of Congress, whose job is oversight of ICE detention facilities, from entering the facilities. Members of Congress were supposed to be able to show up WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE to inspect the conditions in these facilities. In doing so, they would be able to observe and provide an accurate assessment of the conditions that detainees must endure while being held by DHS. A court order blocked DHS officials from restricting oversight visits AND PROHIBITED THE USE OF DHS FUNDS TO BLOCK CONGRESS. However, on January 8, a new policy was issued and submitted on Saturday, January 10 in federal court, indicating members of Congress must schedule any visits to ICE facilities seven days in advance. Exemptions to this rule must be approved by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who issued the new order. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS TO BLOCK CONGRESS WOULD COME EXCLUSIVELY FROM MONEY APPROPRIATED BY THE “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,” not from regular appropriations, thus circumventing the court order. The Bill infused an unprecedented amount of funding for immigration enforcement, including $75 billion to ICE alone, to support deportation efforts and increase detention capacity. Noem justified the new policy saying she is protecting ICE detainees and employees as well as lawmakers and their staff. Over the weekend, Democratic Minnesota Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison were denied entry to an ICE facility in Minneapolis. We have already read numerous reports of deplorable conditions in ICE detention facilities with inadequate food, water, medical care, sanitation, family contact, and legal services. Without oversight, we must assume that the cruelty, disrespect, and mistreatment that ICE agents employ while apprehending immigrants, undocumented as well as legal, continue inside the facilities. Congress MUST HAVE UNANNOUNCED ACCESS to oversee these facilities and minimally assure humane and legal treatment of detainees.

Funding ICE’s Inhumane and Illegal Treatment Questioned

Mr. Fong:

The Hill reported that Dem Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy is criticizing the manner in which the Trump administration is handling ICE operations. Although domestic enforcement of immigration law is important, the tactics used by ICE are undisciplined, disrespectful, inhumane, and illegal. ICE generally is not being held accountable for arresting and detaining peaceful and legal immigrants. No one wants to fund a law enforcement entity that is rogue and irresponsible. The fatal shooting (three times) of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent and the judgmental response of DHS Secretary Kirsti Noem about the victim and the involved officer have been stunning. Numerous video clips that dispute Secretary Noem’s rendition of the event during which time she characterizes the victim as a “domestic terrorist” and defends the excessive response of the officer that caused her death PRIOR TO A PROPER INVESTIGATION have angered the public and resulted in protests across the nation. When comparisons are presented of Jan 6 rioters who severely battered law enforcement officers (and who were pardoned by Trump his first days in office), and the protestor in Minnesota, members of the Trump administration argue that each case is unique and must be judged accordingly. The stark differences of the demeanor and behavior of those involved in the two scenarios are remarkable! The American people are not buying the flimsy and irrational narratives of Trump officials. On ABC News, Minnesota Senator Tina Smith said, “I think what we are seeing here is the federal government, Kristi Noem, Vice President Vance, Donald Trump attempt to cover up what happened here in the Twin Cities. And I don’t think that people here and around the country are believing it.” I am not able to believe a narrative that conflicts with what I see. As a member of Congress whose job is to hold the executive branch accountable, what is your assessment of the conduct of ICE?

Some Events in History Should NEVER Be Repeated

Mr. Fong:

“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.” – DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, January 13, 1943. I am greatly saddened to report that although written eighty-three years ago to date, this writing could aptly describe communities in the United States of America today.

Federal Prosecutors Resign Over Investigation of Shooting Victim AND NOT IF THE SHOOTING WAS LAWFUL

Mr. Fong:

The NYTimes reported that SIX FEDERAL PROSECUTORS in Minnesota resigned or accelerated their retirements over the decision of the Justice Department to INVESTIGATE THE WIDOW of the shooting VICTIM killed by an ICE agent for her ties to neighborhood protest groups AND NOT TO INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTER. Included among those resigning is Stanford-educated and 17-year career prosecutor Joseph H. Thompson, the second in command at the US attorney’s office. He was overseeing the broad fraud investigation that has been in the Minnesota political spotlight in recent years and was also involved in the investigation of former President Biden for keeping classified documents in his residence when his term as vice president ended. Prosecutors chose to resign when they were pushed to investigate the widow of the shooting victim, Renee Nicole Good, but were not included in investigating if the shooting itself was unlawful. Mr. Thompson’s resignation is a blow to the ongoing fraud investigation of schemes to cheat safety net programs. The majority of the defendants charged in the fraud cases are American citizens of Somali origin. The Trump administration used that fact for its immigration crackdown and recent increased ICE presence. The head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced that an investigation WOULD NOT BE OPENED to determine if the ICE agent violated federal law. Renee and Becca Good had stopped after dropping off their son at school to support their neighbors who were under threat by ICE agents. Blowing whistles, neighborhood residents alert their neighbors of ICE presence. Becca explained, “We had whistles; they had guns.” Mr. Thompson originally planned to investigate the shooting in partnership with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, an agency that reviews police shootings. Immigrant rights groups have criticized ICE for stopping residents based on their looks and accents. The stops often lead to violent arrests of immigrants and American citizens. The community is outraged and Minnesota’s attorney general along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit, alleging that ICE is engaged in abuses and civil rights violations. Trump has used the situation to demean Somali Americans, whom he calls “garbage.” The increased ICE operation had become a distraction which actually undermined the fraud investigation. Governor Walz called Mr. Thompson “a principled public servant who spent more than a decade achieving justice for Minnesotans. It’s also the latest sign Trump is pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department, replacing them with his sycophants.” Mr. Thompson has charged more than 90 people since 2022 of which 60 have been convicted. His resignation is an enormous loss to law enforcement. This unjust incident is yet another blow to the rule of law.

GOP Lawmakers Speak Against DOJ and Federal Reserve Investigation

Mr. Fong:

NBC News reported that the number of Republicans in the Senate have spoken AGAINST the Justice Department’s subpoenas of the Federal Reserve, warning that the probe could undermine the central bank’s independence. Senator Lisa Murkowski of AK said, “if the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns – which are not unusual –then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice.” Senator Murkowski added, “The stakes are too high to look the other way. If the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer.” Senator Thom Tillis of NC, a member of the Banking committee, vowed to block Fed nominees, including the Fed Chair vacancy. He also called the credibility of the Department of Justice into question. Because the committee is comprised of 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, Senator Tillis could stall Trump’s nominees if he sides with Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Thune of SD indicated the allegations “better be real, and they better be serious.” Both Senators Cramer of ND and McCormick of PA said they do not believe that Chairman Jerome Powell is guilty of criminal activity. Senator John Kennedy of LA does not believe that Powell has done anything wrong and he said that interest rates will go up if the executive branch and the Federal Reserve “get into a pissing contest.” Senator Susan Collins of MA, also on the Banking Committee, said she believes strongly in the independence of the Federal Reserve and that Jerome Powell is “a person of integrity.” House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill of AR described Powell as “a person of the highest integrity” and expressed that the subpoenas could make future monetary policy decisions difficult. Senator Hill’s committee oversees the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department, and the Securities Exchange Commission. Even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed that he sees the investigation as “an unnecessary distraction.” Republicans seem to realize, as one unnamed Republican lawmaker source said in a text, “Our leadership and admin just keep doubling down on stupid.” House Majority Speaker Johnson, however, agreed that the DOJ is “doing their job.” He refused to give his personal opinion on the matter. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment but said Pam Bondi instructed her DOJ team “to prioritize investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars.” THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS NOT FUNDED THROUGH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. How refreshing it is to hear so many Republicans offer their honest opinions rather than parrot the president’s absurd retributive and authoritarian rhetoric! Are some of the Republicans in the Senate actually revealing a hint of backbone and rational thinking? Do I see a glimmer of oversight from the Republican members of the once co-equal branch of government? Well, golly…!

Threatening a NATO Ally

Mr. Fong:

The Hill reported that Senate Republicans are vowing to block efforts by Trump to seize Greenland by military force. Trump continues to threaten to take control of the Denmark autonomous territory, even when VP Vance and Secretary of State Rubio met with top diplomats this week. Because the US is still a member of NATO and Greenland is part of the NATO alliance, the rational of taking the territory from one of our allies eludes us all. By threatening military action to take Greenland, Trump is also threatening our 80+-year NATO alliance. Republican Senators Thom Tillis of NC and Lisa Murkowski of AK, Democratic Senators Chris Coons of DE, Jeanne Shaheen of NH (ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee), and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of IL, along with Democratic Reps Gregory Meeks of NY (ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), Madeleine Dean of PA, and Sarah Jacobs of CA will travel to Denmark today to assure the prime minister of Denmark that legislators, including Republicans, would oppose military force. Senator Tillis is only now reminding us that “we have coequal branches of government” and that he believes that a sufficient number of members would stand in the way of the president’s outrageous plan. Ironically, we did not see this opposition from Republicans when Trump recently took Venezuela. Tillis said there is more “pushback by Republicans senators on this topic.” He added, “We absolutely need NATO support of Ukraine. Diminishing the capabilities of NATO to do that is a death knell to people in Ukraine.” Perhaps, that is the answer to why Trump would even consider such an outrageous idea. Ending our alliance with NATO would give Putin a huge advantage in his war on Ukraine. CBS News reported that Putin commented on the Trump administration’s disagreement with NATO and on NATO’s “course of accelerated militarization of the North…under the fictitious pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing.” He added that the inability of the bloc to reach agreements is “increasingly unpredictable” and “extremely dangerous.” A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week found that only 17 percent of Americans would support a US takeover of Greenland. Only 4 percent agreed with taking Greenland by force, and 66 percent were concerned that attempts to buy Greenland would damage US relations with our European allies. Trump continues to sow chaos, disrupting global order and making us all feel less safe.

California Defies Trump’s Decision Regarding Free Park Admission for MLK Day

Mr. Fong:

SFGATE reported that Governor Gavin Newsom will offer free admission at more than 200 state parks in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, despite the president’s halt of free admission to national parks for this federal holiday and also for Juneteenth Day which commemorates the end of slavery. Instead, Trump made June 14, Flag Day, which is not a federal holiday but is his birthday, a free admissions day. The NAACP also condemned the Trump administration’s decision to stop free entry for these holidays, saying that it is an attempt to minimize Black resilience and erase Black history. The state of California was able to raise private funds to offset the cost of granting free vehicle entry to the parks through the California State Parks Foundation, which is an independent, nonprofit advocacy group for the parks. Newsom said, “While Trump works to erase Dr. King’s legacy, California will honor it.” I applaud Governor Newsom for honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in this way.

Week of January 4th

Trump’s Takeover of Venezuela Sets Precedent for Authoritarians Across the Globe

Representative Fong:

The BBC reported that Trump’s use of brute military force to capture Venezuela’s president and his wife and to take over and “run” the country until the US can issue a “judicious transition,” while threatening to put “boots on the ground,” sets a dangerous precedent worldwide. The International Crisis Group warned that the fall of President Maduro would lead to violence and instability in the country. The United States has a terrible record of attempting to achieve regime change in various countries in the past 30 years. As a student of political science, you know, Rep Fong, what follows the initial military operation is crucial for the outcome of regime change. Trump did not seem to have much of a plan for what is to follow in the Venezuelan case, saying that Marco Rubio will “run” the country in the interim. He has no real plan for the country’s governance, other than to have the existing VP Delcy Rodriguez serve as acting president and do the bidding of the US. Of Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Venezuelan opposition leader to Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Trump said, “I think it’d be very tough for her to be the leader; she doesn’t have the support…She doesn’t have the respect.” He made no mention of Edmundo Gonzalez, who is believed to be the rightful winner of the 2024 elections. The Venezuelan armed forces supported Maduro and will not likely accept US decisions, and Maduro’s civilian supporters were armed by the regime while they enriched themselves through corruption networks. Marco Rubio will have his hands full managing the chaos that will likely ensue for Venezuela’s 30 million people, and “boots on the ground” will likely be necessary as time goes forward. TRUMP NEVER MENTIONED SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION. He spoke mainly of seizing oil and having American companies rebuild infrastructure to support that process, being more concerned with the US being reimbursed for oil that he believes is owed. Trump DOES HAVE AMBITIOUS PLANS to dominate the entire Western hemisphere, however, citing the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 which he now calls the “Donroe Doctrine.” He issued warnings to Columbia, Mexico, and Cuba. Having already set his sights on Greenland, Trump may eventually look north to take that region over for its strategic position and natural resources. INTERNATIONAL LAW establishes agreed rules that Trump is ignoring. China condemned US action in Venezuela, but Xi may eventually decide that if the US can get away with violating international law, he could forcefully take control of Taiwan which he views as a breakaway province. Putin has already violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and may follow Trump’s example to attack other European nations. Trump’s actions regarding Venezuela may be just the beginning of a series of events that will create a very unstable and dangerous world. That is not the world most of us envision for our future.

Attack and Takeover of Venezuela Consumes American Thought

Mr. Fong:

I cannot address you with the title of “Representative” today because you are not representing me or even trying to represent me. You praised the president for the capture and arrest of the illegitimate leader of a sovereign nation, expressing your pride of this decision for our nation and for our military expertise. Our military is certainly a source of pride, but it should be used judiciously in the defense of our nation, not for months of strategic planning to meddle in the governance of an opposing nation with the express purpose of giving the president unbridled force to dominate the Western hemisphere and its resources. We are no longer a government “BY THE PEOPLE” because our government representatives do not stand for the people’s values, opinions, or desires for the direction of the country. Between 63 and 70% of our country was opposed to military action in Venezuela. Rather than assert the WAR POWERS ACT, our legislators bow to the irrational and often inexplicable motives of a tyrannical leader, who did not win a majority of the popular vote. That is the reason we are in this shameful situation. And it will not end here. Trump threatens more aggression. Without Congress and the American people standing up to him, he will continue to tarnish our reputation and disgrace the nation. That is YOUR legacy, Mr. Fong. That is what history will say about this complete turn of our country from a supporter of democratic principles to an autocracy, a country in which the executive branch makes unilateral decisions about our future with no regard for the general citizenry. History has shown that the US was involved many times in influencing other nations for our own best interests and in some cases going so far as to become involved in or even instigating war. For example, with the invasion of Iraq we were clearly in violation of the United Nations Charter. No country is exempt from faults and poor decisions. Rather than learn from past mistakes, however, Trump lied to Congress and to the American people about this latest action of forcible capture of a head of state, saying it was not an invasion of a sovereign nation, but simply an act of “law enforcement” to seek justice for President Maduro’s involvement in drug trafficking. Yet, for the past several months, more than 100 Venezuelans were murdered for allegedly VIOLATING THE LAW by transporting drugs, A CRIME THAT IS NOT A CAPITAL OFFENSE. NO EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED AND NO EFFORTS WERE MADE FOR DUE PROCESS, the foundations of our legal system. The president tried a different argument – that removing the corrupt leader of Venezuela would BENEFIT THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE. However, no change has been made to the ruling party of Venezuela. Maduro’s cabinet members are still in their positions, his VP is acting-president, and absolutely nothing changes for the Venezuelan people. If Venezuelans who were opposed to Maduro’s presidency express joy about his removal, they will experience harsh repercussions under the continued repressive regime. Trump is in Venezuela for ONE REASON, for control of Venezuela’s oil reserves. So, Mr. Fong, by praising the removal of corrupt Maduro, you are disrespecting your constituents for painting this military action as something that it was not. We know that waiting for you to stand in the way of Trump’s future military aggression is futile. Your role in Congress is useless if you fail to uphold the Constitution and persist in not defending the rule of law.

January 6, 2021 Insurrection Remembered

Mr. Fong:

PBS News reported that today is the fifth anniversary of the Jan 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol (most of us do not need a reminder). A PLAQUE HONORING THE 3,600 POLICE OFFICERS who defended the democratic process of certifying the 2020 election by standing up to a violent mob IS NOT ON DISPLAY AT THE CAPITOL, although it was approved by Congress in March 2022. House Speaker Johnson has not unveiled the plaque, and the DOJ is in process of dismissing a lawsuit brought by police officers asking that the plaque be displayed as intended. The Capitol Architect said he cannot comment on the plaque because of the ongoing litigation. To preserve the nation’s history, about 100 members of Congress created the plaque to memorialize that shameful day. The plaque expresses gratitude to the brave police who kept members of Congress safe from a violent crowd that was threatening to hang the vice president and physically harm other members of Congress. Although the Republican Speaker at the time called the event an insurrection and the GOP House leader called it “the saddest day” in Congress, Republicans are now trying to change history and sanitize and minimize the significance of the day. The president refers to Jan 6 as a “day of love” because those storming the Capitol were encouraged by him and his repeated lie that he won the election. Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University, asks the important question, “Will January 6 be seen as the seminal moment when democracy was in peril?” At least five people died in the riot and the days following it, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police when she broke through a window toward the House chamber where congressional members had barricaded themselves, fearful for their lives. Trump told his agitated supporters that they would lose their country if they did not fight for it and that he would accompany them to the Capitol. The mob shouted vile slurs, defecated in the halls, carried Confederate flags, and wielded objects to use as weapons such as poles and bear spray. More than 140 law enforcement officers were wounded, some seriously, and several died. In the end 1,500 people were charged in the Capitol attack which was one of the largest federal prosecutions in the country’s history. In 2025, when Trump returned to power, he PARDONED ALL OF THEM in his first hours in office. Despite the Republican efforts to keep truth from gracing the halls of the Capitol, I believe the plaque to commemorate the bravery and heroism of those officers will eventually find its way there. Many accounts have been published describing that terrible day, and we watched the events unfold in televised media with our own eyes. Just as we remember other tragic events in our nation’s history, we will NEVER FORGET the horrors of that shocking day, the fears we felt for the future for our democratic system, and the disgust surrounding the injustice that the insurrectionists, although convicted by our justice system, were not held accountable for their actions as a result of the president’s pardon.

Trump’s Bold Move on Greenland

Mr. Fong:

The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is actively seeking to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark for more than 300 years, threatening military action. European leaders warned that Washington needs to respect the borders of Greenland. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the increased rhetoric is part of a strategy to pressure Denmark into selling Greenland to the US. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US move on Greenland would threaten the future of the NATO defense alliance. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark declared that “the inviolability of borders” is a universal principle and that “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” Perhaps, Trump’s aggression on Greenland is a pretense for an end to the US alliance with NATO. Any move on Greenland could result in war between the US and its longtime NATO Allies, a scenario that is difficult to imagine because of its preposterous nature. As a member of NATO, if the US can still call itself a member after Trump’s abominable behavior, the US has the access to Greenland that is afforded through that relationship, including a defense agreement. Greenland has 57,000 residents and conducts its own economic and domestic policies, while Denmark is responsible for its security and foreign policies. Denmark increased spending on Arctic security by $13.7 billion in 2025 and committed to additional increases in the coming years. Trump recently appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a US special envoy to Greenland in his attempt to split Greenland from Denmark. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s wife posted an image of a US flag superimposed over a map of Greenland with the word “soon” after the US invasion of Venezuela this week. I AM OPPOSED TO THIS AGGRESSIVE POSTURING ON GREENLAND, TO VIOLATIONS OF OUR NATO ALLIANCE, AND TO TRUMP’S EFFORTS TO IMPOSE HIS WILL OVER THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND BEYOND BY USING OUR MILITARY MUSCLE AND HIS DISRUPTION OF FREE TRADE. HE HAS NO LEGAL RIGHTS TO ACT AGAINST SOVEREIGN NATIONS. HE DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR THIS AGGRESSION. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD KEEP HIS POWER-HUNGRY HANDS OFF THIS TERRITORY AND ALL OTHERS. I DO NOT want my TAX DOLLARS to be used for this ABSURD military action against Greenland or for its purchase TO BOOST THE INSATIABLE EGO OF DONALD TRUMP! Greenland is crucial for defense of the Arctic region, and we should be working cooperatively with our Allies to protect the region.

ICE Shoots and Kills a Minnesota Citizen

Mr. Fong:

The Associated Press reported the deadly shooting of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The 37-year-old woman and mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, was shot in the head south of downtown Minneapolis. Numerous video recordings of the incident were provided by bystanders. An officer approached the woman’s vehicle which had stopped in the middle of the road, and she was told to move. Another officer demanded that she open the car door and he grabbed the door handle. Ms. Good began to drive forward, appearing to attempt to leave the scene, and a different officer standing at the front of the vehicle pulled out his weapon and fired several shots into the vehicle at close range. The officer did not appear to be struck by the vehicle, but Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem depicted the woman as a “domestic terrorist” (with no evidence) who threatened the life of the ICE officer, saying he shot her in self-defense. Secretary Noem’s description of the incident was clearly in contradiction to the video footage captured of the situation. The earliest report from Secretary Noem indicated that the officer had been run over by the woman, and that he was consequently hospitalized. CBS News reported that Illinois Representative Robin Kelly is filing articles of impeachment against the DHS Secretary, saying that she has “turned ICE into a rogue force, violating the Constitution, tearing families apart, and leaving death in her wake…From Chicago to Minneapolis, her recklessness cost lives, including Renee Nicole Good. This isn’t just dangerous –it’s impeachable. I’m fighting back.” We have all witnessed numerous recorded violations of ICE officers using excessive force against undocumented immigrants as well as against US citizens in the past year. The misinformation that the DHS spreads to mislead the public is unacceptable and Secretary Noem needs to be held accountable for distorting the events. A similar situation unfolded against Villegas Ganzalez and 31-year-old Marimar Martinez, who was shot by Border Patrol agents after they blocked agents’ vehicles last fall. A grand jury indictment against Martinez was brought for attempting to kill a federal agent. However, the charges were dropped a few weeks later. In a similar situation in Chicago, a 38-year-old undocumented father Silvero Villegas-Gonzalez was fatally shot after dropping his children off at school. Again, the Trump administration lied about what actually transpired. The Department of Homeland Security must be restrained from committing these atrocities.

Response to Letter from Representative Fong on Venezuelan Invasion

Mr. Fong:

Your letter to me in which you provide the rationale for the invasion of Venezuela as “transnational drug trafficking” makes no sense, considering that Trump recently pardoned the president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year prison sentence following his conviction for decades of drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernandez was notorious for accepting bribes from drug lords to allow 500 tons of cocaine to pass through Honduras for the United States. As president, Hernandez maintained a flourishing drug trade over several decades, making Honduras one of the most corrupt and violent countries in Central America. Numerous reports indicate that Venezuelan President Maduro is equally corrupt. However, considering Trump’s pardon of Hernandez for the same offense as the president of Venezuela, Trump’s reasoning for invading Venezuela and capturing Maduro for drug trafficking is nonsensical. No regime change is underway to eliminate the drug trade entrenched in the Chinese-cultivated ”illegitimate authoritarian government,” as you called it, or its repressive, undemocratic practices. Despite your constant efforts to claim your loyal support by justifying Trump’s decisions, you will never be successful at convincing your constituents with these irrational arguments. The president has proven to be a compulsive liar whose decisions are frequently illogical or contrary to the principles and values of most Americans. How unfortunate that you sully your reputation as a representative by always expressing your support of the president, no matter how farfetched or detrimental his “executive actions” are, and by never exercising your congressional “oversight role.” You expend much of your talent and energy in this way, rather than by serving the American people. Everyone makes choices in life, and you are clearly making yours.

Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Text and Replaces His Photo

Mr. Fong:

The Washington Post reported that the National Portrait Gallery in the Smithsonian replaced a prominent photograph of President Trump this week while removing text that described two impeachments and the January 6, 2021 insurrection. The image now portrays a back-and-white photo of Trump staring intently with his fists on the Resolute Desk, a photo that Trump shared on his Truth Social account last year. The text that accompanied the previous photo, one with his hands folded in front of him, described Trump’s first term and his reelection, “Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials.” The description also mentioned Trump’s Supreme Court appointments, his 2020 election loss to Biden, and his efforts that led to the development of the coronavirus vaccines. A Trump official complained about the text at the time that the president was attempting to replace the Portrait Gallery’s director. The new text is so short that the outline of the previous placard is visible on the wall. It only notes Trump’s years in office, and contrasts with the other previous presidents placards whose events and accomplishments during their presidencies are described. Clinton’s description contains mention of his impeachment. The Smithsonian and the White House would not respond to questions about whether the Trump administration requested the changes. Remarkably, these changes took place the week of the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Trump complained about former Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet and threatened to withhold funding if the institution did not cooperate with the Trump administration’s view of museum content having “improper ideology,” which eventually led to her resignation. A notice on the Smithsonian’s website indicates that the National Portrait Gallery will temporarily close from April 6 to May 14, but it did not mention if the placards for the other presidents will change during that time. I AM OPPOSED to the political interference of Trump in designing the displays at the Smithsonian and in rewriting history for the millions of people who visit the museum each year. The purpose of a museum is to preserve history, not to alter, erase, or invent it.

Letters to Fong

Week of March 15th

Rep Fong’s Support of “Make Elections Great Again” Indicates Support of Voter Suppression

Update On the War on Iran

Ongoing War on Iran

A Sad and Unforgettable Turn of Events for the United States of America

Senator Wyden Seeks Document from DEA Regarding Epstein Cover Up – the Corruption Continues

Trump’s Inappropriate Interaction with Japan’s Leader

Week of March 8th

Middle Eastern Billionaire Expresses Disdain for Trump

Kari Lake Illegally Operated the US Agency for Global Media

Voting Rights Groups Express Concerns Over Supreme Court Case

Report on the War With Iran

FBI Obtains Arizona Voting Data from GOP 2020 Review That Confirms Trump Lost

Pro-Iran Hackers Claim Cyberattack on US Medical Device Maker

Zelenskyy Criticizes Trump’s Decision to Give Putin a 30-Day Waiver on Oil Sanctions

Week of March 1st

Attack on Iran Results in Secret Service Boost of Security for President and Vice President

Judges in Red West Virginia Condemn ICE Tactics

Firing of More FBI Agents and Cyber Czar Ahead of Iranian Strike

The Cost of War

Definition of “War”

Trump Nominee for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Removed As Senior DHS Adviser

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez to Keep Control Over the Nation

Week of February 22nd

Judge Dismisses CA Deportation Case for Father of Three US Marines

Vietnam Veterans Sue to Block Proposed “Independence Arch”

Use of Taxpayer Funds for Propaganda Ads Promoting ICE

Trump’s New Justice Department “National Fraud Enforcement Division”

Jack Smith’s Report on Classified Documents Case Blocked

FBI Staff Who Worked on Classified Documents Case Fired

Trump Administration’s Assessment of the State of the Union Is Inaccurate

Week of February 15th

Beware of Increased Efforts of the Trump Administration to Control Who Participates in Elections

Proposed Amendment Would Give Congress Power to Block Presidential Pardons

Social Media to Submit Info on Americans Speaking Against ICE to DHS

ICE Detains Hundreds of Children

Trump Administration Expands ICE Detention of LEGAL Refugees

Representatives Plan to Force War Powers Vote on Iran

Trump Attempts Diplomacy Without Real Diplomats

Week of February 8th

Trump Excludes Democratic Governors from the National Governors Association Annual Meeting

Less Than 14% of ICE Arrests Had Violent Criminal Records

Grand Jury Fails to Indict Democrats for Video Urging Military Not to Follow UNLAWFUL Orders

Venezuelans Sent to Salvadoran Prison Can Be Returned to US

Ice Acting Chief Lyons Admits Immigration Agents Have No Reason to Be at Voting Sites

Trump Elevates Coal Industry, Destroys Environmental Policy, and Further Abandons Democratic Principles

State Department Orders Nonprofit Libraries to Cease Processing Passport Applications

Week of February 1st

FBI Raids Georgia Election Office to Take Voter Data

Director Gabbard Under Scrutiny for Presence at FBI Raid of Georgia Election Center

MEGA Bill Threatens Election Process

Congress Could Gut Voting Rights

Fulton County, Georgia Will Sue Trump Administration Over Seizure of 2020 Election Records

Autocratic Meddling in Elections

Trump issues ANOTHER Racist Post

Week of January 25th

ICE Is Out of Control

Republican Drops Gubernatorial Bid in Minnesota

Senator Cassidy Expresses Concerns Over DHS and ICE

Senator Rand Paul Summons Trump Immigration Officials to Testify

ICE Enters Ecuador’s US Consulate in Minneapolis Unlawfully

Secretary of State Rubio Finally Testifies Regarding Venezuelan Takeover

Representative Omar Sprayed with a Substance During Public Address

Week of January 18th

Trump Threatens Increased Tariffs on Countries That Disagree With His Greenland Plans

Injustice and Civil Rights

Legislation Introduced to Restrain Political Appointees to be Nominated for Inspecter General Positions

Trump’s Speech at Davos World Economic Forum

Former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Open Congressional Hearing

Trump DOJ Opens Investigations on Minnesota Governor and Minneapolis Mayor

Another American Citizen Killed by ICE in Minnesota

Week of January 11th

Trump Administration Restricts Congress from Inspecting ICE Facilities

Funding ICE’s Inhumane and Illegal Treatment Questioned

Some Events in History Should NEVER Be Repeated

Federal Prosecutors Resign Over Investigation of Shooting Victim AND NOT IF THE SHOOTING WAS LAWFUL

GOP Lawmakers Speak Against DOJ and Federal Reserve Investigation

Threatening a NATO Ally

California Defies Trump’s Decision Regarding Free Park Admission for MLK Day